BUDGET PERFORMANCE: Reps walk minister out, want another sacked

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61758

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Hearing begins in NPAN suit against APCON •P 49

•P.7

MOU—Dr Daniel K. Padolsky, President of the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas, USA and Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara and the University of Texas in Dallas, USA.

BUDGET PERFORMANCE

Reps walk minister out, want another sacked

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

•Over poor budget defence, absence from committee hearing •N1.305b not enough for meals —Presidential Villa A

BUJA— MINIS TER of Science and Technology, Professor Ita Okon BasseyEwa, was, yesterday, walked out by the House of Representatives over his inability to convert Continues on page 5

Our misunderstood President •P.17 DEAR BUNMI •P.33

ROTIMI FASAN •P.19

Mr & Mrs

IBRU: ONE YEAR AFTER—

Lady Maiden Alex Ibru with children- Toke, Tive, Uvie, Ose, Anita and husband, Marcel Kouassigan, at the 1st Year Anniversary of late Alex Ibru, held in Lagos yesterday.

2015: Nigeria risks constitutional crisis if Jonathan contests— Junaid•P. 6 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

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4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012—5

POCKET CARTOON

Reps walk minister out, want another sacked Continues from page 1 budget figures into percentages in his ministry’s 2012 budget.

The Reps also asked President Goodluck Jonathan to sack his Environment Minister, Hajiya Hadiza Mailafia for her failure to appear before them.

The Science and Technology Minister, engaged his supervising Committee in the House of Representatives in a shouting match when the members asked him to give the actual budget performance of his ministry.

The committee, chaired by Hon Abiodun Akinlade, had asked the minister to convert the ministry’s 2012 budget performance into percentage instead of providing it on item by item basis.

Bassey-Ewa, who made efforts to convert same to percentage could, however, not do so to the consternation of the lawmakers.

Akinlade pointed out that the Minister had never taken the committee seriously just as he recollected that BasseyEwa had failed to provide the percentage performance of his ministry when the committee

went to his office for oversight functions sometime ago.

Responding to the chairman’s comment, the minister shouted: “We are prepared; we are prepared. You can see that I have been trying to compute the percentage.” When cautioned by the Chairman that he should realize that he was appearing before a committee, which is an extension of the House, the minister replied that he was first shouted at by a lawmaker.

Due to his inability to answer queries from the committee, Akinlade, after consultations with his colleagues, ordered Bassey-Ewa to leave and get prepared to appear before the committee on another date.

After the Minister had walked out angrily, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Rabi Shuaibu Jimeta, apologized, on personal grounds, to the lawmakers and promised to put all figures together in subsequent engagement with the committee.

The committee had earlier queried the Minister on why he refused to recommend the

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR

BY PASTOR ITUAH ITUAH

The most important thing in any relationship isn’t what you get but what you give. In any case, the giving of love is an education in itself – Eleanor Roosevelt. Owe no man nothing but love.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!— Henry Ward Beecher A woman was depressed for years and every treatment proved abortive until her doctor decided to try a different approach; he sent a package, in it was a strong magnifying glass. With instructions of what to do. Every day, she should look through the lens at objects in her home and write down her observations.

She began looking through the lens at these objects and was amazed at what she saw. Then she examined the veins in a flower plucked from her garden, the colour dots in an old photograph, and even the texture of her own skin.

In days before close-up photography, she’d never seen the likes of it before. She was amazed and astounded at the brand new world opening up before her eyes.

She began to get well because this unusual prescription had aroused within her the most curative of all emotions – gratitude. Gratitude for the gifts all around us. Steve Goodier sums it aptly: “Do you practice gratitude? I think you’ll discover that it is no less than a powerful prescription for inner peace.”

appointment of a substantive Director-General for the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) when the Acting D-G of the agency, Engr.

Mohammed Haruna, had stayed in an acting capacity for more than the regulatory six months.

The Minister agreed that Haruna had stayed for about eight months in acting capacity but told the lawmakers that the process for the appointment of a substantive DG for NASENI had been completed and was awaiting the President's ratification Disagreement over how far the 2012 budget had performed in terms of percentages was a major plank of disagreement

between the Executive and Legislature recently.

While Okonjo-Iweala was hitherto reported to have claimed 56 per cent implementation; the House of Representatives said it was 34 per cent; the Senate claimed it was just 21.56 per cent.

A piqued House of Representatives before going on recess last July gave President Goodluck Jonathan up to September to ensure 100 per cent implementation of the 2012 budget or face impeachment proceedings.

Meanwhile, the committee chairman in his opening remarks had lamented that the government had relegated the development of science and technology to the

background by not including the sector in its six priority areas in the 2013 budget.

He said: “The President in his Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) earmarked six ministries as priority areas and unfortunately the Ministry of

Science and Technology is not there. No country has ever enjoyed global attention without developing its Science and Technology potentials. It would be difficult to move this country forward without developing our technology.”

N396B ECOLOGICAL FUNDS SHORTFALL:

Reps ask Jonathan to sack Minister J

UST as the House of Reps walked out the Science and Technology minister, the lawmakers also asked President Jonathan to sack his Environment Minister, Hajiya Hadiza Mailafia over her failure to appear before the Uche Lillian Ekwunife-led House Committee on Environment.

The committee was investigating shortfalls of almost N400 billion in the Ecological Funds deductions and summoned the minister to appear before it to offer explanation.

The minister ’s absence, however, stalled the probe and the committee had to postpone the hearing.

Irked by the minister’s absence, members of the committee tongue-lashed her, accusing her of not having passion for the work and that there was an apparent disconnect between her and her duties.

A member of the committee, Mohammed Abdulahi Shamsidin (Kaduna), who first made the suggestion, was supported by all the committee members at the session.

He said: “The president has appointed these people to work with him in the interest of the country. The Minister of Environment has no passion for the environment and there is a disconnect between her and the work she has been chosen for.

I would suggest that she should try her luck elsewhere. We should call on the President to find someone else who is not

only interested in the job, but has the competence as well as the love for Nigeria.”

The committee also expressed displeasure at

the absence of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim at the investigative session

which, according to Ekwunife was to enable the committee conclude its work which it started since November 2011.

2013 BUDGET: N1.305b not enough for refreshments, meals, Presidential Villa tells Senate

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA —THE Sen ate was, yesterday, told that the N1, 305, 292, 050 set aside in the 2013 budget for refreshment and meals and other miscellaneous expenses in the State House will not be enough.

This is just as a breakdown of the Miscellaneous sub-head in Aso Rock’s budget shows that N203,752,432 was allocated for refreshment and meals; N107,412,768 would be spent on honorarium and sitting allowance while N37, 277,825 will be for publicity and advertisement.

These were disclosed, yesterday, when the State House Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbile appeared before the Senator Dahiru Kutaled Committee on Federal Character and InterGovernmental Affairs to defend the N14,715,566,104 budget

for next year.

Ogbile also told the senators some other expenses that were being taken care of in the refreshment and meals vote, which he said include National Economic Council (NEC), Council of State, conferences in the Banquet Hall, Presidential retreats, National Merit Award, Children’s Day as well as hosting of dignitaries. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, however, countered the Permanent Secretary on the provision for the Merit Award which he said has its own budget.

The Permanent Secretary also gave a further breakdown of the 2013 State House budget as thus, Medical expenses (N50,308,546); Postage and courier services (N10,035,583); Welfare p a c k a g e s (N195,066,223); Subscription to professional bodies (N4,589,793); and Sporting activities

(N32,910,730).

According to him, Overtime will gulp, N250,455,589; Feeding of animals including animal supplements for the veterinary clinic (N30,584,144); Summit/ Extra ordinary sessions including the UN, African Union, ECOWAS, etc (N228,112,862); and NYSC, IT, LOCUM, Housemanship and contract staff allowance (N144,788,555).

According to Ogbile: “I have taken pains to explain that this money is not just to fund the residence of the President and that of the Vice President. The experience I have had is that this fund is grossly insufficient. It is not even enough.”

The Permanent Secretary noted that “it is also from the budget of N1.305 billion that we take care of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which holds every Wednesday.”

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Jonathan seeks Senate’s approval for $200m external loan

BY HENRY UMORU

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B U J A — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, urged the Senate to grant him approval to borrow additional $200million in the 2012-2014 Medium-Term External Borrowing Plan.

In a letter to the Senate President, Senator David Mark, and read to other Senators, Jonathan explained in the letter that the additional sum of $200 million would be spent on water project in Rivers State.

Jonathan’s request is coming barely few weeks

after he had asked the Senate to approve the borrowing plan for $7.9 billion.

The letter read: “First, we would like to include a $200 million water supply project being planned for Rivers State.

This project would be financed by the African Development Bank and

shall provide potable water supply to residents of Rivers State.

“Secondly, the Federal Government is currently developing a low-income housing finance facility to support the provision of affordable homes for Nigerians. This scheme will be financed using a $300 million credit

facility from the World Bank.

“We would like to swap this new $300 million facility with the proposed guarantees for the power sector in the draft borrowing plan, thereby ensuring that we do not increase the overall size of loans proposed in the external borrowing plan.

“Thirdly, we would like to bring to your attention, the fact that we need to issue a $1billion Euro Bond in continuance of the programme initiated under the administration of President Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua as well as a $100 million Diaspora Bond.”

Alleged N6.5bn fraud: Sylva begs court to quash charge

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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From left: Minister of Interior, Mr Abbah Moru; Vice President Namadi Sambo and Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abubakar Kachalla during concluding meeting on Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria, DICON, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

BUJA — E M B AT T L E D erstwhile Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, yesterday, begged the Abuja Division of the FederaL High Court to quash the six-count criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The anti-graft agency had alleged that he masterminded the illegal

2015: Nigeria risks constitutional crisis if Jonathan contests — Junaid zInsists FG is in talks with Boko Haram

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

A

BUJA — SECOND Republic politician, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, yesterday spat fire on the decision by President Goodluck Jonathan to defer the declaration of his interest in the 2015 Presidency till 2014, arguing that it would be too cumbersome to salvage the nation from the crisis the belated action could trigger.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Vanguard, the former lawmaker said Jonathan was courting avoidable trouble by pretending to be making up his mind on the next election, when in fact he had made up his mind to run in 2015.

According to the medical doctor-turned political activist, Jonathan should first subject his Presidential ambition to a judicial interpretation by the Supreme Court to stave off looming

constitutional crisis that his action would generate in the country.

The Kano politician noted that given the furore already generated by the circumstance of his emergence as the President of Nigeria, Jonathan must clear the air early enough on his 2015 ambition so that those who have legal issues could challenge him appropriately and get redress.

Legal issues Mohammed said: “He (Jonathan) will be doing Nigerians a big disservice if he waits till 2014 to declare his interest in the 2015 Presidency because there are Nigerians who have real legal issues to take up with him on the matter and he should do it in good time to prevent a constitutional crisis and violence.

“If Mr. President is a true Nigerian leader he should decide now so that those who have issues

with him will go to court to challenge him and get redress.

“The issue is not about him but 160 million Nigerians whose fate is tied to the Presidency of Nigeria. Jonathan has no right to dilly dally with the destiny of Nigerians.

Jonathan not qualified to contest But Mohammed made it clear that Jonathan was not qualified to contest in 2015, having taken the oath of office twice as Nigeria’s President first in 2009 following the untimely death of Yar’Adua and later in 2011, thereby hitting the limit provided by Nigerian law.

According to him, allowing Jonathan to run in 2015 would have made him to serve 10 years instead of the maximum two terms of four years each stipulated by law, thereby making a mockery of the Nigerian Constitution.

He said: “The fact that he

wants to run after declaring that he would spend only a term in office also places a moral burden on him and he should think about it if he is a gentleman with conscience. Common sense indicates that Jonathan has no right to contest in 2015.

“Most importantly, Jonathan should be told that the Constitution does not allow any Nigerian leader to take the oath of office twice. He has already exhausted the limit of his two terms.”

FG in talks with Boko Haram Mohammed also punctured the claim by Jonathan that his government was not negotiating with the Boko Haram sect, insisting that the Federal Government was not telling the nation the whole truth about the matter.

The politician insisted that the Presidency recently dispatched a minister from one of the Niger Delta states

to Mali to meet with that country ’s top security official and some militant leaders sympathetic to the Boko Haram sect with a view to facilitating dialogue between the sect and the Federal Government.

He said: “This government has been having underground talks with Boko Haram and if the President says he is not negotiating with the sect, he is lying.

“What the government is trying to do with the Boko Haram matter shows the highest display of hypocrisy and dishonesty.

“The Federal Government cannot continue to justify its claim of not wanting to dialogue with Boko Haram after it negotiated with the Niger Delta militants and offered mouth-watering jobs and contracts to the mostly Ijaw boys only to turn round and denounce negotiations with another militant group.

“Is it because the Boko Haram sect leaders are not of Ijaw extraction where Mr. President comes from?”

diversion of funds totalling about N6.5 billion from the Bayelsa State treasury while he was in power.

Specifically, EFCC maintained that the fraud was perpetuated between October 2009 and February 2010.

It alleged that Sylva connived with others at large to loot the funds, noting that the crime was perfected under the false pretence that the monies were used to argument the salaries of civil servants in Bayelsa State.

The offence he allegedly committed which bothers on conspiracy, money laundering and obtaining by false pretence, is contrary to section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2004, as well as section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004.

According to EFCC, it is punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2004.

However, Sylva yesterday challenged the jurisdiction of the court to try him over the alleged offence, insisting that going by the proof of evidence before the court, there is no primafacie nexus linking him to the alleged fraud.

Though the court earlier slated, yesterday, to commence full-blown trial on the matter, nevertheless, owing to the application for quash, trial Justice Adamu Bello adjourned the case till January 15, 2013, to enable the EFCC to respond to the application.

EFCC had through the charge it filed on February 24, accused Sylva of stealing, just as it identified three persons whose bank accounts it said were used as conduits pipes for alleged illicit transfer of funds secured through loan from Union Bank Plc in the name of the Bayelsa State Government.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012—7

Hearing begins in NPAN suit against APCON

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AGOS — HEARING begins today at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos in the suit instituted by the Newspaper proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, NPAN, against the Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria, APCON, in which the association is challenging some provisions of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion.

In the suit filed on its behalf by Tayo Oyetibo’s chambers, the association wants the court to determine whether Articles 21 and 137 of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion are not beyond APCON to the extent that they affect media houses who do not engage in the practice of advertising. Joined in the suit is the Inspector General of Police Other issues canvassed for determination are: *Whether the two articles are not inconsistent with the provisions of Section 39 of the 1999 constitution which guarantees the freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinion, and to receive and impart ideas without interference. *Whether with regard to the provision of section 4 (1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, it is competent of APCON to create offences and impose penalties as done in the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion.

The Association is, therefore, seeking the following declarations: *A declaration that Articles 21 and 137(a) of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion are ultra vires the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria in so far as the provisions of the Articles affect members of the Plaintiff’s Association who do not engage in the practice of advertising.

*A declaration that Article 21 of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion which requires that all advertisements except public notices, goodwill messages, obituaries and vacancies shall be presented for vetting and approval by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) before publication is inconsistent with the provisions of Section 39

of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and therefore is unconstitutional, null and void

*A declaration that the Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria has no power under the Advertising Practitioners (Registration Etc) Act Cap A7 Laws of the Federation 2004 to create offences and impose penalties as done in Article 137(a) (b) and (c) of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion and as such the said Article 137 (a) (b) and (c) is unconstitutional, null and void. *A perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from treating or continuing to treat Articles 21 and137 (a) of Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion as valid Articles in the Code. *A perpetual injunction restraining the defendants whether by themselves, their servants or agents and or representatives from implementing, or other wise applying the provisions of Articles 21 and 137 (a) (b) and (c) of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion against any members of the Plaintiff’s Association or their servants, officers or representatives.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN @ 55—President Goodluck Jonathan (right) being congratulated by the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe after presenting a greeting card to the President at an early morning devotion to mark the President's 55th birthday in Aso Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. See more pix on Page 14.

Life without Alex is difficult —Maiden Ibru

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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AGOS — IT is exact ly 366 days that Mr Alex Uruemu Ibru, the publisher of The Guardian Newspapers died but to his immediate family it is as if he died yesterday.

At a one-year memorial events organised for Alex Ibru in Lagos, yesterday, the late industrialist’s widow, Maiden Ibru, told Vanguard what she missed most with Ibru’s demise, lamenting that life has been difficult without her husband.

Asked how it had been one year after Alex died on a symbolic date (November 20, 2011 or 2011-2011), Maiden Ibru said: “How can it be? It has been a very difficult year but we thank God for his mercies. He has been there for us. He has been very supportive and He will continue to be supportive and protect all of us.”

On what she missed most about Alex Ibru, she said: “He was my husband. What does a wife miss about her husband?

Companionship and his

EFCC probes missing 35 containers from Tin-Can port

BY GODWIN ORITSE

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AGOS — THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has commenced investigation into clearance of 35 containers at the Tin-Can Island port that were transferred to a bonded terminal,Clarion Bonded Terminal, in Lagos.

Already, some officers of the Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, including the Command’s controller have been summoned to Abuja to say all they know about the clearance of the containers.

It was gathered that the owner of the bonded terminal was arrested but released on bail pending investigation.

Vanguard learnt that operatives of the commission were seen at the Tin-can Island Customs Command taking statements from some indicted officers.

Besides, the Comptroller General, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi Inde, has also ordered the closure of Clarion Bonded Terminal located off the LagosBadagry expressway and the withdrawal of their operating licence.

A freight forwarding firm simply identified as Chiefreight, which was alleged to have cleared the containers, has also been suspended by the Customs Service.

A senior Customs officer who pleaded anonymity, said: “the Controller is here with us, along with some of his officers, all of them are

being investigated.”

Falling short of saying that the containers were taken out of the Tin Can port without payment of statutory duty, the senior officer confirmed that “they didn’t follow due process.”

An inside source at Tin Can Port Command of the Customs put the duty payable on the 35 containers at about N2.45 billion.

Sources at Tin Can Customs also fingered an executive of the Tin Can Island chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA) as being allegedly involved in the scam.

The executive was alleged to be closely linked with the chief executive of the freight forwarding firm; Chiefreight.

presence. When you get home, you meet someone at home. All that is all gone.”

To mark the first year memorial of Alex Ibru’s death, the family organised two events yesterday. The first was a thanksgiving service at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Tafawa Balewa Square and the second was a reception at the Shell Hall of MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The events drew friends and members of

The Guardian and Ibru family.

Notable persons at the ceremonies included former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; his wife, Derin; Pa Akintola Williams; Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Dr Gamaliel Onosode, Mr Ladi Bonula, Chief Nike Akande, Prof. Wale Omole; his wife, Sade and Chief John Odeyemi, among others.

CJN admits Oyinlola, 3,896 others as new lawyers

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — Former Gov ernor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, was yesterday, called to the Nigerian Bar by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Muhktar.

Oyinlola, alongside 3,896 other new wigs were enjoined by the CJN to eschew habits capable of reducing the judiciary to ridicule, even as the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Dr. Tahir Mamman, enjoined them to strive towards creating employment opportunities for others.

According to Tahir, those called to the Bar yesterday were those that passed the 2012 Bar final examinations.

Oyinlola, is currently the Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party,

PDP. Meanwhile, a total of 5,449 students had sat for the August final examination of which nine passed with first class, 195 had second class upper, 900 second class lower and 2,783 had pass.

Information made available to Vanguard revealed that 1,552 Law School students failed the examination.

The Law School Director General further stated that some young lawyers were caught impersonating during the examination, adding that they were presently facing criminal trial.

In his speech at the occassion, Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Idowu Sofola, urged the new lawyers to be prompt at court attendance and handle any case assigned to them with diligence, caution and confidential-

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

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Vanguard, EDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012—9

Customs arrests passenger with $320,000 at Lagos airport

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU AND DANIEL ETEGHE

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AGOS — THE Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Command of Nigeria Customs Service yesterday arrested a passenger with over $320,000 at the Murtala M u h a m m e d International Airport, about boarding a Qatar Airways flight bound for Doha, in the Gulf region.

The passenger identified as Onwuekwe Anthony Chidi, was checking in on Qatar Airways, when he declared the money, but could not explain the source of the currency as well as show adequate proof of his business to officials of Customs at the airport.

The passenger and the money have been handed over to officials of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigations.

According to a statement signed by the Customs Area Controller, Mr. Eporwei Charles, "About 13.00 hours on November 19, 2012, a passenger by name Onwuekwe Anthony Chidi, with passport number A04086671 was checking in on Qatar Airways, he declared the sum of $320,000 on both

forms CDFIA and CDFIB but could not explain the source of the currency nor show adequate proof of his business to the

Customs officer."

Meanwhile the money and suspect have been handed over to the EFCC for further investigations.

... Recruits 2,000 graduates for inspection job

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AGOS — THE Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) says it has recruited 2,000 graduates to handle the Destination Inspection Scheme (DIS) from January 2013.

Mr. Wale Adeniyi, the Public Relations Officer of the Service, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday.

According to him, the NCS is ready to take over the operation of the scheme as 1,000 officers have been trained to take over the operation of the

scheme.

He said that Customs officers had been trained in three component areas of the scheme, namely: destination inspection, scanning, and Risk Assessment Reports (RAR).

“They ’ve gotten the necessary training in the three major component areas of destination inspection, scanning and the issuance of RAR. “We have over 1,000 officers who have been given training exposure and who are in the position of to issue RAR as we speak," he said.

Senate committee chairman, others sued for defamation

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS — CHAIRMAN of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma and the National Insurance Commission (NIC) have been sued before a Federal High Court in Lagos, by Alliance and General Insurance PLC, (A&AGIP), claiming damages of N2 billion for defamation.

Joining as third defendant in the suit is Mr. N. O. Opara, a worker of NIC, over alleged letter written to the Chairman of the

Senate Committee on Aviation, which made the senator allegedly write a letter to the Minister of Aviation.

The defamatory words being challenged in the court is that the letter clearly shows that A&AGIP does not have requisite capacity to insure the assets of Nigeria College of Aviation Technology.

A&AGIP contends that the defendants had injured its reputation as a duly licensed and credible insurance company in Nigeria by publishing serial defamatory publications maliciously about it.

Man docked for assaulting policeman

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — A 29 year old man, Chibueze Nwobodo, was yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court for allegedly assaulting a police officer, Adebayo Rasaq with Number F/ No 457218PC attached to Man Centre Police Station in Ikeja.

Nwobodo and others at large, are facing a three count charge of assault and resistance of arrest.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Roman

Unuijse, told the court that Nwobodo and others at large, committed the offence on November 20, at about 8:15 a.m., at No. 13, Oba Akran Avenue by AP Filling Station, in Ikeja area of Lagos.

After the charges was read to him, he pleaded not guilty to the three count charge.

And Magistrate Komolafe granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She therefore adjourned the matter till December 17, 2012, for trial.

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Pa Akintola Williams(R)Gamaliel Onosode, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Oluremi at the one year memoria; anniversary of late Alex Ibru From left: Tunji Braithwaite, his wife, Grace; Chief Derin Osoba, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Senator Oluremi and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the one year memoria; anniversary of late Alex Ibru

HAMZAT’S MURDER:

Oke kicks over Mimiko’s evasion of summon

BY DAPO AKINREFON

Ogun Police plead for patience A

BY BOSE ADELAJA

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BEOKUTA — POLICE in Ogun State are yet to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of former Chairman of Ikeja Local Government in Lagos State and former Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Health, Toyin Hamzat, who was killed last Sunday at Sabo, Sagamu in Ogun State.

According to sources, none of those arrested in connection with the killing had made confessional statement as at yesterday, but the Police in Ogun, have given the assurance that they will work on information at their disposal to unravel the mystery.

In a telephone conversation with Vanguard, yesterday, Police spokesman in Ogun State, Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP, Muyiwa Adejobi, said investigations were ongoing as regards the killing.

He pleaded with the general public to be patient, saying the Police are up to the task in handling the case.

He added: “We are still investigating; this is

a criminal case which needs proper investigation. People should be patient with us”.

The politician was reportedly shot in the head at Sabo, Sagamu, last Sunday after leaving Sagamu Town Club, venue of a meeting and was heading for his residence in IjebuAyepe, Ogun State when he met his untimely death.

A

B E O K U TA — PALPABLE tension has enveloped residents

account of malpractices, manipulation of INEC’s vital documents and substantial noncompliance.

It stated that “three times the court bailiff had met a brick wall in efforts to serve both the Labour Party and governor Mimiko the petitions.

On the three occasions, he said the governor was reported to be busy with state matters while the offices of secretaries and officials dedicated for the governor's mails were reported under lock and keys.”

Amosun presents N211.86 bn 2013 budget

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — OGUN State G o v e r n o r, S e n a t o r Ibikunle Amosun yesterday presented a

total sum of N211.86 billion as 2013 appropriation bill as against N200.55billion for this year.

Amosun who presented the bill tagged ‘Budget

Ogun communities raise alarm over alleged invasion of 30 communities in Fulani herdsmen.

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

KURE —THE Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation has accused Governor Segun Mimiko of evasion of service of notice of the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP at the tribunal.

This is coming at a time when the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, chided the state governor for evading notice of petition.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on

Media and Publicity of Chief Oke, Mr. Kunle Adebayo, the organization berated the governor for evading service of the notice of the petition three times, which should have signified the beginning of the trial.

The organisation described the action of the governor as “contempt of rule of law and an uncharitable conduct.”

The PDP candidate and his party, the PDP had earlier approached the tribunal to challenge the victory of Mimiko on

Ketu-land in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State over the alleged invasion of their farmlands by armed

The residents, who were predominantly farmers claimed that no fewer than 21 people have been killed since 2000 whenever the Fulani herdsmen invaded their farmlands.

They raised the alarm that the marauding armed Fulani herdsmen had been allegedly lurking at the borders between Nigeria and Benin Republic and might in a matter of days invade their communities and destroy their farmlands with their indiscriminate grazing of their cattle.

A coalition of sociocultural groups from the area appealed to the government to intervene and save lives.

for Sustainable Growth,’ said the 2013 estimates for projects stood at N118.23, representing 55.80 per cent of the budget.

Like the 2012 budget, education gulped the largest share of N43.44billion, representing 20.53 per cent of the budget proposal, while the recurrent was put at 22.93 per cent of the budget, amounting to N93.64 billion.

Presenting the budget to the members of the state House of Assembly at the Oke-Mosan House of Assembly Complex, Governor Ibikunle Amosun said agriculture attracted a paltry N10.69billion, representing 5.05 per cent of the income and expenditure.

He also said that rural and infrastructure development would take N39.92 billion, which is 18.70 per cent, thereby standing as the second largest consuming sector

of the budget.

Housing and Urban renewal was proposed to gulp N29.62 billion, which is 13.98 per cent while health care delivery was expected to take N14.72 billion, representing 6.95 per cent from the next year budget.

“Another sector that will occupy the centre stage in government activity in 2013 is agriculture and forestry; accordingly, a

total sum of N10.69 billion (5.05 per cent) has been allocated to increased agricultural p r o d u c t i o n / industrialization.

“It is hoped that the entire value-chain will be fully exploited and comparative advantage in areas of food supply, job creation and preservation of our forest reserves will be fully explored,"he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012—11

Senator donates N3m relief materials to flood victims in Edo

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

DONATION: Prof. Pat Utomi (3rd right), presenting relief materials in Asaba, during his visit to flood victims in Anambra, Delta and Bayelsa states.

Delta signs MoU with US varsity for kidney transplant centre

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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S A B A — D E LT A State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to develop a centre of excellence for kidney transplant and treatment of kidney related diseases in the state.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who signed on behalf of Delta State University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, in Texas, as he led a delegation of DELSUTH officials to the centre, stated that the objective of the MoU was to establish a partnership that promotes joint initiatives in the fields of nephrology and kidney transplantation between the parties.

He noted that it would

take between 14 and 16 months to set up the fields of nephrology and kidney transplantation of internationally acceptable standards at DELSUTH. Specifically, the governor said this required improvement of the Dialysis centre, Laboratory, Radiology and Theatre departments of DEL-

SUTH into centers of excellence.

To achieve this, Governor Uduaghan disclosed that the state government would, in the next 10 months, enhance the infrastructure and equipment at DELSUTH as well as the capacity of the personnel.

He said the personnel at DELSUTH would be

6 teenagers nabbed for alleged piracy, illegal bunkering in Rivers

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HARCOURT—A COMBINED security team of anti-piracy and illegal bunkering in Rivers State has apprehended six teenagers for alleged piracy, illegal bunkering and kidnap activities in the state The joint team, com-

prising the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Navy, the Police, SSS and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, paraded the suspects, four boys and two girls, before the press yesterday at the NNS Pathfinder, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.

Commanding Officer, NNS Pathfinder, Commodore O. V. Fadeyi,

Riot: Jesse kingdom bans youth activities

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—LEAD ERS of Idjerhe (Jesse) Kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State have announced the proscription of all youth activities in the area with immediate effect, following the November 13 crisis that led to the razing of the palace of the mon-

sent to UTSMC for specialization and refresher courses to enable them cope with the new facilities and discharge their duties efficiently.

Dr. Uduaghan noted that the overall objective was to make the facilities for nephrology and kidney transplant available and at a cheaper rate for the people.

arch, HRM Erhiekevwe I. They also urged security agencies to fish out and prosecute those behind the act.

The resolutions were taken at an enlarged meeting of Idjerhe elders, convened by Chief Anthony Akpomiemie and Mr. John Nani, member representing Ethiope West constitu-

ency in Delta State House of Assembly.

The communiqué was signed by the Iyasere of Idjerhe Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Emeje, and others of the kingdom.

Vanguard was informed at the meeting presided over by Chief Ogude that the leaders discussed the crisis which resulted in the burning down of the palace of the Ovie of Idjerhe, Erhiekevwe I, on Tuesday, November 13.

said the latest arrest was sequel to the arrest of seven pirates by the Nigerian Navy a week ago.

He said the suspects provided useful information that led to the crackdown in a nine-hour operation at Ke and PeroKparakama communities in Degema locality of Rivers State where the Joint Taskforce (JTF) also held eight suspects a few days ago.

Items recovered from the paraded suspects include four AK 47, I FN rifle, a pistol, 212 rounds of 7.62 ammunitions, four Nokia phones, a file of documents, eight machetes and N530,000.00 cash.

“Additionally, 51 illegal refineries and four Cotonou boats were destroyed during the operations,” Commodore Fadeyi said. The suspects were later handed over to CSP Francis Gbowen, who said they would be charged to court immediately.

ENIN—THE sena tor representing Edo South senatorial district, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, yesterday, donated relief materials estimated at over N3 million to flood victims in the state, with a call on the Federal Government to strengthen the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA. The senator, who expressed regret over the incident, attributed the effects of the flood to alleged failure by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency to sensitise Nigerians on the need to be prepared for the dis-

aster, pointing out that it was the responsibility of the Federal Government to ensure that the agencies became more efficient.

Some of the relief materials included textiles, bags of rice, noodles, drugs, tomatoes and several other items. Senator Uzamere who also is the Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts, urged members of the public to assist flood victims to assuage their pains.

He said: “I want to use this opportunity to advise the Federal Government to fortify our emergency agencies and also give warnings out if such a problem occurs next time.

Ex-councillor rehabilitates roads in Delta community

A

FORMER Coun cillor in Ukwuani Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Basil Ishiekwene, has embarked on the rehabilitation of major roads in the area. lshiekwene, leading a team of workmen, repaired and resurfaced more than 35 dangerous pot-holes between Umutu and Abraka, along the express way, that cuts across Umutu through Obiaruku and Abraka

The former Councilor who carried out the work at the weekend, noted that the pot holes had caused serious accidents which led to loss of lives, including a former Registrar of Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka.

“We cannot allow avoidable circumstances to claim the lives of our own people who would have contributed immensely to the development of our area,” he said.

NDDC doing well —Okorocha

I

MO State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has said that the efforts of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, so far noticed were a manifestation that the present Board was living up to its expectation.

Governor Okorocha spoke shortly after receiving science equip-

ment worth millions of naira donated by the commission to primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sir Jason Nwaiche, the governor said science rules the world, adding that whatever people were doing today was science based.

Madam Udoh passes on @ 67

M

ADAM Esther Udoh is dead, aged 67 years.

The late Madam Udoh who died August 1, 2012, was a devout Christian and a trader at Ikot Ekot in Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

A statement by the chief mour ner, Idongesit Udoh, said the deceased, who is survived by four childrlen and 16 grand children, will be

buried at her family home on December 8, after funeral services at the A. M. E. Zion Church, Ikot Ekot, on December 7, 2012.

Late Madam Udoh

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Delta monarch, PHCN at loggerheads over transformer

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

From left: Arch Lanre Towry-Coker; Ambassador Ritta Korpivaara, Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria; Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, newly appointed Honourary Consul to Nigeria; Mrs Lolu Kehinde and Dr. Leke Kehinde during a reception hosted by the Embassy of Finland in honour of Dr. Kingsley Akinroye as Honourary Finnish Consul to Nigeria in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

Suspected oil thieves, security agents clash in Delta

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

W

ARRI—MEM BERS of an armed crude oil bunkering syndicate yesterday attacked security agents and a community vigilance group at Ovwian in Delta State for the destruction their boat and unlawfully refined products by Oil Facility Surveillance Limited, OFSL, Warri, the company contracted by the Federal Government to protect oil pipelines in the state.

Confrontation

However, OFSL, in collaboration with the Ovwian vigilance group,

confronted the suspected oil thieves and rounded up three of them, while others managed to escape.

The suspected oil thieves, all of Ijaw ethnic extraction, aged 39, 24 and 23 respectively, were furious that the patrol team of OFSL destroyed their locally made boat, loaded with a large quantify of refined products at Ovwian River.

Breakthrough

General Manager, OFSL, Mr. Kestin Pondi, who was represented by his special adviser, Mr. Sheriff Chukwuma, told reporters: “This is a major breakthrough in our war against illegal bun-

kering. They operate at mid night with cooperation of some security agents.

“At about 3.00 am, our patrol team at Ovwian River ran into them (oil thieves). They fled, leaving the boat and our men destroyed it.

“While still patrolling the river in the morning, our men got information that some suspected oil thieves had engaged Ovwian vigilante in a fierce battle, so we mobilized and got there.

Three of them were arrested, but the others fled away in a T-23 boat.

We shall hand the suspects over to Police for prosecution.”

A member of the vigilance group, Prince Fed-

eral Gboko, said: “At about 6.00 am, this morning (yesterday), I got a distress call that some armed men were in battle with my colleagues, saying we burnt their boat, and they took one of our guns as the fight raged on.

“Our boys apprehended two of them after we called for back-up. They were taken to our town hall. Some policemen came and asked us if we were having internal crisis.

“As we were discussing, the boat, which conveyed the attackers, came again and we told the police that our gun was with them. We recovered the gun and arrested another member of the group."

A R R I— PA R A MOUNT ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu and the Benin City Electrical Distribution Company, BEDC, are flexing muscles over the failure of the power firm to install, connect and commission a private transformer, one year after collecting statutory charges and other fees, amounting to N2.2 million.

Solicitors to the monarch, Seimode and Associates, in a letter, dated October 22, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, BEDC, Engineer E. B. Umoren, said the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in September, last year, re-

leased/granted one 300KA,33/0.415KV transformer for the palace annex, situated at Pere-Botu Street, Edjeba, near Warri, to serve the palace and its neighbourhood.

He said that a formal application was made to PHCN for installation, connection and subsequent commissioning, vide a letter, PHCN/ 26160/BM/ENG/0.1/707/ 2011, dated, Novemebr 5, 2011, entitled, “Payment of statutory charges”, it conveyed approval.

Engineer Umoren told Vanguard when contacted, weekend, that the problem over the noncommissioning of the transformer arose out of a bone of contention between the monarch and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Residential Estate in Edjeba.

Surveyors urge N'Assembly to amend Land Use Act

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—THE Ni geria Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, has admonished the National Assembly to seriously consider amendment of the Land Use Act in the proposed review of the 1999 constitution.

While NIESV declared its intention to fight against quackery in the profession, it regretted that it had been difficult to amend that portion of the constitution which, according to it, had made it difficult to embark on land reform and creation of wealth.

President of NIESV,

Mr. Emeka Eleh, made the appeal in Benin City, shortly after he led his group on a courtesy call on the Oba of Benin to intimate him of their National Council meeting in Benin City.

Disclosing their intention to hold their 43rd Annual Conference in March, 2013, in Benin City, Mr. Eleh said: “We have already submitted a position paper on the on-going constitution review. We want the Land Use Act removed from the constitution because being in the constitution makes it difficult to amend. It is because that law is in the constitution that it has been difficult to amend. "

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012—13

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14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN'S 55TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN ABUJA, YESTERDAY. PIX: ABAYOMI ADESHIDA.

President Jonathan being presented with a Horse by Police Affairs Minister, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, during an early morning devotion to mark the President's 55th birthday at Aso Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Chaplain, Aso Villa Chapel, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba (right), and other dignitaries on the occasion.

President Goodluck Jonathan, his mother, Mama Eunice Jonathan and the Executive Secretary, Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Kennedy.

President Jonathan (left), Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and others at the event.

President Jonathan and Prof. Richard King.

President Jonathan and former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Austin Opara, at the event.

President Goodluck Jonathan receiving a birthday card from Mrs. Martha Onwuzurumba, on behalf of Red Carpet Staff in the Presidential Villa.

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President Jonathan and Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

President Jonathan being congratulated by former NDDC MD, Mr. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo.

Cross section of well-wishers at the event.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012—15

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16—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

BEST STUDENT: From left— Master Meze Ebuka of Lagos State Model College, Agbowa; Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, Lagos State Commissioner for Education, and Mrs Omolara Erogbogbo, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, at the presentation of certificate and cash donated by China Europe Intenational Business School to Ebuka, one of the best students at the last JSSCE, in Lagos State. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

14 injured, 15 houses burnt as PDP, ACN supporters clash in Benue

BY HENRY UMORU & PETER DURU

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AKURDI—NO fewer than 14 persons were, yesterday, injured while 15 houses including Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, secretariat and the house of a former Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Benjamin Vember, were razed at Annune in Tarka Local Government Area

of Benue State, following a clash between PDP and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, supporters.

Vanguard gathered that most of the burnt houses and property belonged to notable members of PDP in the area.

Eyewitness said the crisis started two days ago at Asukriya community, few kilometres from Annune, home town of the Senate Minority

Leader, Senator George Akume, where supporters of ACN had gone for a rally preparatory to Saturday’s local government polls.

Borno PDP on Boko Haram link

This is even as the Borno State chapter of PDP, yesterday, denied any link with members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect, and gave the

Itsekiri seek ACF's support against Toru-Ebe State

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

A

REWA Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday, assured that no new state would be created in the country since the North had the final say on the issue, and did not support the emergence of new ones.

Chairman of ACF, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed said this yesterday while receiving a group from Itsekiri ethnic nationality, Delta State, which met with chieftains of ACF in Kaduna to solicit support against the creation of Toru-Ebe State from the Niger Delta.

Mohammed told the 15-man delegation, led

by Chief Isaac Jemide that those calling for state creation in the South-South geo-political zone do not wish the Itsekiri well.

Jemeide said: “The purC M Y K

pose of our visit is to exchange ideas and seek areas of cooperation between the Itsekiri ethnic nationality and our Arewa brothers. This is not new.

“Such relationships once existed up to our independence. Our link then was late Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, whose relationship with the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, and the late Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, is well known.

“We are opposed to tenure elongation in any guise either by the ongoing charade called constitution amendment or by any presidential committee made up of government apologists.

“In their proposed Toru-Ebe State, lands owned from time immemorial and by court de-

cisions by the Itsekiri in Delta State, Bini in Edo State and Ilaje of Ondo State are included. We are unable to accept a situation whereby the Ijaw premise their existence in the Niger Delta on the denial of the existence of other ethnic groups in the same region.”

“One of the prominent children of late Chief Okotie-Eboh, Adolor, is a member of our delegation present at this meeting.

Our other brothers, Mr. Ejueyitsi and Allison Ayida were public servants and also related with some of you during your public service years.

“Today, Nigeria is passing through another phase in our struggle to build a united, peaceful and enduring nation where social justice and fair play will be the guiding principles.”

Borno State government 14 days to withdraw its allegation that PDP had links with the group, as announced by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, or face court action.

It asked security operatives to immediately arrest and interrogate Mr. Bwala to enable him disclose the names of those causing mayhem in Borno State since he claimed to know those involved.

Meanwhile, in Benue State, it was alleged that after the ACN rally, the members matched through the streets in the town, harassing anyone identified to belong to PDP. An eyewitness said: “The action forced members of PDP to defend themselves. But they were overpowered by the mob, which matched to the PDP secretariat and set it ablaze, before burning a car and other houses belonging to some PDP stalwarts in the area.”

According to him, the mob also made a bonfire on the Makurdi-Gboko road, disrupting traffic for several hours before the police dispersed them.

In his reaction, state secretary of ACN, Mr. Tersoo Jonathan accused PDP of initially attacking supporters of his party, saying the PDP supporters unjustly disrupted their campaigns at

— 17 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012— “Politics – the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.” -Oscar Ameringer

D

Our misunderstood President

President Goodluck Jonathan that this terrible war could be resolved through dialogue soon? Could it have made more sense to allow dangerous speculation, damaging opportunism from the opposition, and crashed hopes from beleaguered communities to subsist, than an earlier repudiation of claims that talks were going on, or were being offered? Who were those faceless people who spoke to journalists with such confidence regarding “back-door ” dialogue with the insurgency? Are they the President’s men, or people who exploit huge gaps in the manner his administration responds to critical issues of governance?

No plan to speak with insurgents

N

ow that the nation knows from the President himself that there is no plan to speak with the insurgents, should we resign ourselves to a longdrawn war, or are there options in dealing with this insurgency being contemplated? In denying that President Olusegun Obasanjo’s assault on Odi had helped to cripple the Niger Delta militancy, the President implied that force alone is not the antidote to this insurgency. Yet, force is the only thing his administration appears set to continue to deploy, even in the face of near-

BY CALLISTUS OMOREGIE

F

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his latest blistering public criticism of the Federal Government, said President Goodluck Jonathan’s response to the Boko Haram insurgency was slow. This is, no doubt, arguable.

He spoke in Warri as the moderator of a public lecture by former External Affairs Minister, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, in honour of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, who was marking his 40th anniversary as a pastor. He seemed to have chosen the right forum to express his concern over a scourge that has become a national security problem, but his position was defective.

The former president reportedly accused his successors of allowing the Boko Haram insurgency to fester and was quoted to have said: “My fear is that when you have a sore and you don’t attend to it early enough, it festers and becomes very bad. Don’t leave a problem that can be bad unattended.”

When I read the news report which was accorded prominence on the front pages of some influential national dailies of Wednesday, November 14, 2012, I told a friend who was with me that the old fox was at it again. I reminded my friend of how Obasanjo slammed the late Yar’Adua early 2010 at a Trust Newspaper forum when

universal acclaim that it is becoming increasingly counter-productive. Just one day after the televised denial of ongoing discussions with the insurgency, reports said another video had surfaced showing soldiers shooting civilian captives in Borno. The international media is not likely to relent in digging deep into allegations of extra-judicial killings by security agencies; allegations made time and time again by the community, and routinely denied by the military.

If the President’s answers to questions around the insurgency raised even more questions, his

,

URING the better-managed and choreographed media outing on Sunday this week, President Jonathan said he thought he was totally misunderstood when he made comments on the need for complete deregulation if investment in the downstream sector is going to be substantially attracted to the Nigerian oil and gas sector. He had been widely reported a few days ago as suggesting that fuel subsidy will be removed in order to make room for additional investment in areas such as refineries.

He said provision for subsidy has been made in the 2013 budget estimates, but insisted that full deregulation will eventually have to involve removal of all subsidies.

Students of communication arts and management of media must be wondering what can be done to mitigate the manner our President is routinely misunderstood. When he speaks directly, he is misunderstood.

When he is spoken for, Nigerians see things differently. When he and his spokespersons speak on the same issues, people tend to see different angles. Last Sunday, Nigerians saw a President at pains to establish a new level of personal integrity and sincerity in speaking directly with citizens. But the issues he took up, and the positions of his administration on a number of key issues must have left Nigerians perplexed over how they got to their current understanding of some of these issues.

In spite of the widely-reported engagement of the Federal government in discussions with the Jamaatu Ahlil Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad (a.k.a. Boko Haram) insurgency, the President said there has not been any dialogue anywhere with the group. Although neither the President nor his spokespersons had confirmed the numerous rumoured initiatives and engagements with the insurgency directly, it could not have escaped his attention that much hype had been built around the idea that the insurgency had been engaged in talks with his government through its members in Saudi Arabia, and had even put out a list of mediators which included General Muhammadu Buhari. Is it also possible that the President missed the widelypublicised suspicions that the olive branch of the insurgency was a fiction manufactured by his administration to create the impression of successes against the insurgency, and ensnare General Buhari? Could he have failed to be briefed that even a suspicious olive branch had raised hopes of millions of people over the possibility

reappearing, and more Nigerians buy petrol from black markets than licensed distributors. Most people know of the on-going battles between importers, and the government, and most Nigerians pay for these battles with high product prices. Would it surprise the President, then, to know that most Nigerians believe he is losing the battle against powerful interests in the oil and gas sector? Is he aware of the damage done to the integrity of his reform process by the drama (and the fall outs) from the presentation of the Nuhu Ribadu report? Should he justifiably expect Nigerians to believe that White Papers prepared by this Ministers on work done by professionals and other people of high levels of integrity on sensitive areas will yield much value in terms of the quality of outputs?

The best President

P

resident Jonathan believes he will be judged the best President Nigeria has had by 2015. But he will not know if he will run for another term until 2014. And he thinks it is unfair to ask him if he will run again at this stage. So his penchant for not being misunderstood is likely to be enhanced, if he is still unaware that the popular rejection by Nigerians of the tenure extension proposals discussed during the recent hearings on amendments to the constitution has everything to do with his personal ambition.

The recent televised outing of the President revealed a man thrust into power who is grappling to justify his status. There was no evidence that he

The recent televised outing of the President revealed a man thrust into power who is grappling to justify his status. There was no evidence that he was engaged in sophisticated double-speak or elaborate schemes to fool Nigerians. With President Jonathan, what you see is what you get

positions on other important issues were no less puzzling. The President gave himself a pass mark in the fight against corruption, citing electoral reforms as evidence. He said Nigerians blamed every failure and every evil in the country to corruption, so the fight against it must be thorough and total.

But even as he spoke, civil society groups and labour are flexing muscles and mobilising to take him up on the failure to deliver on promises that he will free the oil and gas sector from the stranglehold of corruption and powerful interests. Petrol queues are

,

was engaged in sophisticated doublespeak or elaborate schemes to fool Nigerians. With President Jonathan, what you see is what you get.

Unfortunately, what Nigerians get is the impression of a man who genuinely thinks that history has a place for him, but is finding it increasingly difficult to exercise a firmer hand on the levers he requires to shape that history. At this stage, Nigerians generally think he is too far removed from the actual events going on in the name of his administration; and he is too far removed from them.

OPINION

Boko Haram: Obasanjo and the Odi recipe the former president was hospitalised in a Saudi Arabia.

Many people must have felt or reacted the same way and this is understandable. Since 1979, after his lacklustre administration as military Head of State, Obasanjo has characteristically and uncharitably become a critic of successive governments in Nigeria.

He retains the unenviable record as being the only former Nigerian leader (apart from General Muhammadu Buhari who is understandably an oppositional presidential candidate) who relishes open castigation of the seeming actions or inactions of the government of the day. The only administration that did not get his (Obasanjo) open bashing was his.

Unlike some members of the clan of former Nigerian rulers such as Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, for instance, who have taken advantage of their access to the Presidential Villa to offer advice on governance, Obasanjo has incurably violated that norm.

Whereas he is not denied access to the President, yet he has chosen to pitiably mount the bully pulpit on a voyage of open criticism. The impression Obasanjo creates about himself is that he is not happy to see the other man in the

leadership saddle. This tends to confirm the views in certain quarters that he has the penchant to destroy people than to build them.

There is even a proposition in some circles that Obasanjo believes he is the only man who, perhaps, has been created

by God to offer the right kind of leadership to Nigeria; and which is why he always gleefully refers to his administration as a trail-blazer of sort.

He is wont to allude to some of the things he did while in the saddle as president from 1999 to 2007 in his effort to persuade his listeners that his successors have either lowered the standard or have not been pro-active. But, in a bid to present as Nigeria’s patron saint, Obasanjo’s attitude has become increasingly confusing.

At a point, he donned the garb of a conciliator by going to Maiduguri amid the escalating Boko Haram insurgency to seek to broker a truce. He claimed to have obtained the permission of President Goodluck Jonathan before embarking on the enterprise.

Continues on the Viewpoints pg.

Mr. Omoregie, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Benin, Edo State.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012 IF you are a Nigerian living abroad, there would be something to celebrate in the charge by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Olugbenga Ashiru, to Nigerian’s missions to ensure quick services, though the report was about issuance of visas “to attract foreign investors”. The 48-hour order for that service, we believe, should start with services to Nigerians, who should be first when we make policies.

The obsession with foreign investors has led to negligence of Nigerians. Most of our missions treat Nigerians as irritants.

Common services like renewal of passports could take months some instance. In some cases, the service is still not provided. Who says Nigerians abroad cannot invest in their country?

Preferential treatment for foreigners would not get us far. Nigerians would be the ones to develop their country, agreed with investments from others who notice Nigerians invest in Nigeria.

“All heads of Nigerian Missions abroad would be required to enter into this contract with me so that Nigerians in Diaspora can be better assured of improved service delivery in a manner that justifies

Nigerians First, Always the huge investment in the operations of Nigerian missions abroad,” Ashiru said.

If the performance contract achieves this, Nigerians would applaud it. “Heads of missions are to hold their individual officers accountable for the delivery of agreed outcome such as the number and timeliness of visas and passports issued, the periodicity and quality of reports that are rendered, among other deliverables.”

The Minister missed two key points. One is the assurances that government would stop the shabby manner of handling of our missions which has been on for decades. A performance contract should have clauses

about the responsibilities of government to its officers abroad. Where their entitlements are not regularly paid, should Nigerians expect any performance from them?

Another point the performance contract should reflect is the treatment foreign missions give Nigerians who apply for visas.

It is a matter which government has ignored, except in moments when its members are denied visas.

Embassies have adopted the segregated treatment of visa applicants. Government officials and their wards get visas with ease while ordinary Nigerians with genuine reasons for travelling are treated like criminals. The degradation of Nigerians continues abroad too because our government accepts it.

Countries the Minister wants expedited visa issuance to their nationals are the ones treating Nigerians with absolute disdain.

Ashiru and his officials – at home – who the performance contract also covers, should object to treatment other countries give Nigerians and reciprocate it, if the discrimination continues.\ A performance contract should place interest of Nigerians first, always.

OPINION

BY OWEI LAKEMFA

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N the last few weeks, the country has had to mourn giants in our national life who took the eternal bow. The remains of Otunba Bode Frederick Alalade were lowered on Friday November 16, 2010. As A kid in Lagos, I recall that whenever his face popped up on television, we chorused “Here is the news, read by Bode Alalade” In later years when I became a journalist and activist of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ) I had cause to meet with him as the then General Manager of the NTA Channel 7, Ikeja on staff welfare. Those were the days when Robert Aladeloba, Abike Dabiri and Diran Onifade were the stars or emerging stars of the station. He was already a very successful journalist who wanted the younger ones to be even more successful. One of them revealed to me that when the NTA was not paying wardrobe allowance, Alalade made part of his private wardrobe available to the young newscasters so they could appear respectable on set. To him, journalism was his life and excellence, his hallmark.

The day Alalade’s remains were lowered, the famous Justice Kayode Samuel Esho passed on at 87. He was

Politics of Alalade, Esho, Saraki and Lam Adesina the courageous and upright judge who in the days of the madness and power drunkenness called military rule, looked tyranny in the eye and without blinking, told it the truth. At a time when some judges pronounced the head of the ruling junta as “Kabiyesi” a supreme king whose conduct cannot be inquired into, Esho emphasised that tyranny cannot be allowed to fester and that the military regimes must obey the rules of decency and court orders so long as they had not decided to scrap the judiciary.

What citizens could not safely say under intolerant military misrule, Justice Esho pronounced from the bench. His loyalty was not to those who wielded power, but to the people and social justice.

Lam Onaolapo Adesina, teacher, pro democracy activist and former governor of Oyo State took his exit on November 11. He had grown up in Ibadan when the flamboyant, bombastic but focused nationalist, Adegoke Adelabu held sway. Adelabu, a fore runner of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe and

Patrick Obahiaghon; manufactured his own English grammar. The populist in describing a debate in the First Republic House of Representatives as a “peculiar mess” pronounced the words with an Ibadan accent as penkelemeesi.

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e built his politics around the poor teeming masses called Mekun, just as Aminu Kano did with the Talakawas in Kano and decades later, Alhaji Olusola Abubakar Saraki did with the talakas in Ilorin.

Lam Adesina imbibed the Adelabu politics of advancing Ibadan, liberating the poor and a strong streak of patriotism. Many tried to replace Adelabu; the most pathetic counterfeit being Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, the self styled Alaafin Of Molete who lacking the education of Adelabu merely fed the poor and built what became known as Amala politics; amala being the local staple food.

Where Adelabu persuaded the electorate with his intellect, logic and oratory, Adedibu did with violence and

thuggery. While the former was a patriot, the later worshipped the god of money.

While Adelabu fought against colonial power and for the liberation of Nigeria, Adedibu sided with military power for the enslavement and subjugation of Nigerians.

Being so diametrically opposed, Lam Adesina and Adedibu were bound to clash. The most memorable for me was the 1998 solidarity rally in Ibadan Adedibu and other military surrogates planned for the military butcher, General Sani Abacha. I was then in the leadership of the pro democracy alliance called Campaign For Democracy (CD) We were determined to scuttle the pro Abacha rally which was essentially an attempt to use state power and funds to give the impression that Abacha was loved by the Ibadan people. The CD went out to mobilise the people for a counter rally that would overwhelm the AbachaArisekola-Adedibu contraption. This was where Lam Adesina emerged as a major figure.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18 *Mr. Lakemfa, wrote from Abuja.

, Where goes the Ribadu report?

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HE bad drama starring Malam Nuhu Ribadu and Mr. Steve Orosanye that played to a full Aso Rock audience when the Ribadu Task Force presented its report has come and gone but comments are still being made by a larger Nigerian audience that viewed the ‘home video’ posted on the internets in different parts of the world. In a popular scene that must have been played back many times over, Malam Ribadu had given a summary of his committee’s activities and must have felt satisfied with his presentation when the bottom suddenly came off the entire presentation. This was the point when his deputy on the committee, Orosanye, interjected to give what totally sent the report that took nearly 10 months to prepare into the trash can. Orosanye, in a manner that appeared carefully choreographed, pointed out that the report that Ribadu had so carefully summarised was incomplete as it lacked input from important sectors and individuals that would have made it the thorough job that it was meant to be. Orosanye gave the

impression that Ribadu sacrificed thoroughness for speed, that is a desire to quickly produce a result instead of producing a useful report. Considering criticism of Ribadu for failure to follow due process and procedure when he headed the EFCC, Orosanye’s comment was clearly an indictment of Ribadu’s administrative skills. It was clearly a bad report sheet from his own deputy and an indication that things couldn’t have gone well with the committee’s work.

To rub it in, Orosanye made no attempt to be diplomatic.

The President gave the Taskforce a timeline within which to complete its work. And so what, Orosanye queried, if the work was not ready at the expiration of the time. Not even Ribadu with his touted bluntness could have spoken before the President in the manner Orosanye did. But the former Head of Service of the Federation had shown Nigerians anyone could practically tell the President that he does not have the last say on issues- right in his face .One is not by this saying that Orosanye should have acted like a

If his(Okupe's) comments are anything to go by, nearly a year’s efforts that went into the report have been wasted for the report is as good as dead

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yes-man before the President but his anger seems to have taken the better part of him. Could he have spoken in such manner before President Obasanjo, one might ask? Jonathan sat quietly through it all even as Orosanye made efforts to rephrase his comments apparently out of realisation he might have spoken too harshly. But his comment got Ribadu smoking and he let it all out, telling the President Orosanye’s commitment to the committee was doubtful and his appointment represented a conflict of interest having got himself onto the boards of the NNPC and CBN, bodies over which their committee had oversight functions. He also told the gathering that Orosanye had been a sleeping, non-performing, in short, runaway member of the Task Force who had not attended meetings but had only flown into the country on the day of the presentation- as it were- to scuttle the committee’s work. For Ribadu, Orosanye had no role in the committee except that of a spoiler.

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he two combatants could have continued back and forth had the President not

Boko Haram: Obasanjo and the Odi recipe

BY CALLISTUS OMOREGIE Continued from pg. 17

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T the end of the day, the move turned awry when his host in Maiduguri with whom he sought to kick-start the process of reconciliation, was killed about three days after he (Obasanjo) left the town.

But today, it is convenient for Obasanjo to wrongly accuse Jonathan of slowness in responding to the Boko Haram insurgency simply because he wants to portray the current administration as weak and incompetent. It is also game for Obasanjo to stomp on the Jonathan presidency just because he was instrumental to the political arrangement that threw up the Umaru Yar’Adua-Jonathan presidential ticket in 2007.

The truth, however, is that Obasanjo cannot approbate and reprobate at the same time on the same issue as he has tended to do in the Boko Haram case. Here is a man who went to Maiduguri purportedly on a reconciliation mission now turning round to recommend the Odi treatment for the town of Maiduguri and perhaps other towns in the North just to nip the Bokom Haram insurgency in the bud.

He would have loved to see Jonathan deploy soldiers to the flashpoints to level the places-annihilate the innocent and the ‘criminals’ in a military action. To Obasanjo, this is pro-activeness. This is how to show that the Federal Government or the President is not weak. This approach does not accommodate rationality that is grounded on humanity: how can you commit genocide because you want to take out some criminals?

While reflecting on the crisis at Odi, Obasanjo had said at the Warri forum: “I

attended to a problem that I saw; I sent soldiers. They were killed, 19 of them (were) decapitated. If I had allowed that to continue, I would not have the authority to send security anywhere again. I attended to it…. If you say you do not want a strong leader, who can have all the characteristics of a leader, including the fear of God, then, you have a weak leader and the rest of the problem is yours.”

As I wrote above, Obasanjo’s attitude is increasingly confusing. He claims Jonathan’s response is slow. He also claims that his successor, the late Yar’Adua, was soft on corruption. But I ask: When he (Obasanjo) became president and inherited the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta region, what did he do very quickly to end the scourge? Was it not the late Yar’Adua who ended it with his famous Amnesty deal?

Is his claim about the late Yar’Adua being soft on corruption not tenuous against the backdrop of the fact that despite his muchtrumpeted anti-corruption crusade, his administration witnessed, perhaps, the most bizarre forms of corruption? Did Obasanjo not couple a so-called Transcorp conglomerate and sold Nigeria’s prime assets to this group where he kept a N200 million worth of shares in the blind?

Did he not, with the vantage position of his authoritarian presidency, permit the launching of a N7billion Presidential Library Project in Abeokuta? Has it not now become a notorious fact that Obasanjo was only paying lip-service to the war against corruption as nearly every action of his was a violation of the principle and creed behind the scheme?

Nigerians know that Nuhu Ribadu, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Chairman, used in

intervened. It was clearly an embarrassing moment but whether the gathering saw it as such is another matter. Apparently, Ribadu would not have spoken about Orosanye’s nonperformance had he not confronted him before the President. And the question might be asked why Orosanye had to wait until that moment before speaking up about Ribadu’s failure to follow procedure had he not been sure that his comments would throw a spanner into the work of the committee. Without any desire to pursue the line of opposition parties who believed Orosanye must have been planted in the committee to subvert its work, it will be interesting to know if he had been given prior assurance that his open challenge of the manner the report was put together would send it into the waste bin where it appears now fated. While the President tried to pour oil on troubled waters, his spokesman, Doyin Okupe, was not that careful.

Apparently piqued by the comments of opposition elements, Okupe slammed and tore the Ribadu report into shreds. If his comments are anything to go by, nearly a year’s efforts that went into the report have been wasted for the report is as good as dead.

But should the disagreement of the Ribadu Task Force members signal the end of the report? Is the Jonathan administration ready to consign all the efforts and resources it had committed into producing that report to waste?

How should Nigerians respond to this? Would they be wrong to conclude that setting up the committee was in the first instance a diversionary tactic to lull the people into believing that Abuja was responding to their needs in

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C M Y

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012 — 19

By recommending the Odi recipe for the Boko Haram insurgents, Obasanjo has succeeded in showing to the world the inhumanity and irrationality of his presidency

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fighting his personal battles, was promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police without any recommendation from the Police Service Commission, thereby violating due process.

Yet there are other samplers which border on corrupt enrichment of certain individuals who were not prosecuted or allowed to go scotfree, including those linked to the Halliburton scandal and the ill-fated Obasanjo third term agenda.

I remember that a Senate Joint Committee, headed by Senator Abubakar Sodangi revealed that the plot of land originally belonging to the defunct National Primary Education Commission (allocated in December 2005 to Inter-Projects Association Limited which immediately commenced development) was illegally allocated to Obasanjo Farms Limited, curiously, on May 28, 2007, a day before Obasanjo handed over power to Yar’Adua.

I also remember that two Abuja lawyers had sued Obasanjo at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over N1.2 billion belonging to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF. Specifically, the offence for which the lawyers wanted him punished were the 2006

the wake of the demonstrations that greeted the hike in petroleum prices last January?

Meanwhile, Nigerians continue to waste precious hours looking all over for petroleum. Cost of public transport has increased dramatically and there is nobody providing coherent explanation for what is happening. As at this point today, the official pump price of petroleum is N97 per litre but everyone knows that the product goes for as high as N120 and N130 in different parts of the country. In some parts, a litre of petroleum goes for N140 yet government pretends it has not increased price of petroleum per litre. But President Jonathan has told us where the country is headed with his comment last Wednesday that nothing could end the scarcity of petroleum except government removes so-called subsidy from the product. It does not occur to the President when he makes statements such as this that he insults the Nigerian people when he talks of phantom subsidies that go into the pockets of the children of super rich people.

When the President sat quietly through the exchanges between Ribadu and Orosanye, unable to make clear where he stood on the matter, what did he think such exchanges say of him? If people he had entrusted with an important task on behalf of the people could walk into his presence to put up the kind of display that Nigerians saw in living colours, what does that say of how the President’s subordinates see him? As an effective leader that should be taken seriously? President Jonathan leaves much to be desired in his handling of state issues.

presidential approval in respect of the payment of N250 million to a law firm for the incorporation of Galaxy Backbone and $10 million for the purchase of computers for civil servants, outside the scope of PTDF. Besides, he was alleged to have illegally withdrawn as much as N231.4 billion from the Federation Account without due process or authorisation from the National Assembly (Daily Sun of Thursday, February 5, 2009) while the Ad-Hoc Committee set up by the House of Representatives to probe the activities of the NNPC between 1999 and 2008, indicted him and former Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr. Funso Kupolokun, for violating the guidelines for the respective bid rounds, thereby finding them guilty of “preferential treatment of winners at the conclusion of the bid rounds.”

Where then is the moral high ground that Obasanjo is standing on to pontificate on his administration’s fight against corruption and dismiss his successors as soft on the anticorruption crusade?

Indeed, on both scores-Boko Haram and corruption-Obasanjo has been unfair to his successors. It is in his character to be so disposed; only that I am surprised that he is behaving as if he has fallen out of favour with the government he helped to enthrone.

But then by recommending the Odi recipe for the Boko Haram insurgents, Obasanjo has succeeded in showing to the world the inhumanity and irrationality of his presidency.

He cannot in a self-ignited frenzy railroad a cruel recipe on Jonathan.

As far as I am concerned the President’s systematic and multi-faceted approach at tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, which factors in the innocent civilian population, is the best in the circumstance and should therefore be sustained.

Mr. Omoregie, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Benin, Edo State.

20—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Tragic end of pastor: Hacked to death by his landlord’s son over Indian hemp

Debate of the masses

Insatiable human beings

BY EBELE ORAKPO OODNESS gra“Gcious!

This heat is killing! E fit fry person liv-

•Akinyemi Oguntula... cut down in his prime

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F he had exercised re straint instead of complaining about the smoking of Indian hemp by his landlord’s son and his friends in his rented apartment, perhaps Akinyemi Oguntula’s life would not have ended so tragically. If only he had ignored and endured the inconvenience caused by the smoking of the noxious Indian hemp, he would have been alive today.

But, alas, he had paid dearly for daring to challenge the alleged Indian helmp smokers who turned his rented house to a convergence point to indulge their passion.

Akinyemi, a pastor and a staff of a cement company, met his untimely end penultimate Sunday shortly after an argument with his landlord’son, Bankole Suderu, over the propriety of the latter bringing his friends to his father’s house to smoke the offensive hemp. Pastor, as Akinyemi was more popularly called, was dealt severe machete cuts by his landlord’s son.

And the man died.

It was a tragedy that shook Onigbedu, a community in Ewekoro Local Government Area of

Ogun State. Vanguard Metro, VM, reliably gathered that many tenants of the bungalow were discomforted with the nuisance act of their landlord’s heir but, were afraid to confront him.

In fact, it was gathered that, many of them discouraged visits from friends and relations on

moned Akinyemi to his palace.

Few hours after he was summoned by the monarch, the alleged killer stormed the pastor ’s room and attacked him.

It was, however, gathered from an eyewitness,Wasiu Adekunle, that the deceased had cried for help when

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BY DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

We heard while he was being attacked by his killers, but we could not come out to rescue him; he was shouting help me,please help me, they want to kill me; I am dying

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account of this, preferring instead to host their guests somewhere else.

B

ut, on that fateful day, it was learnt that the deceased confronted his landlord, Mr Sunday Soderu, accusing him of allowing Indian hemp smoking individuals into the house who constitute a nuisance to tenants.

VM further gathered that upon receiving the complaint by the deceased, the landlord reported him to a factional monarch of the community, Oba Michael Ajibulu, who reportedly sum-

he was being attacked but ,nobody could rescue him from his alleged killer.

“We heard while he was being attacked by his killers, but we could not come out to rescue him.

He was shouting help me,please help me, they want to kill me; I am dying. But, after a while, his voice, which initially was loud, faded till we could not hear him again,” the eye-witness said.

However, VM gathered that, apart from his complaints about the smoking habit of his killers,

Pastor Akinyemi, whose wife-to-be is a corps member, was killed because he was reportedly seen as a stumbling block in the Obaship tussle in the community.

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wo Obas in the vil lage have been at loggerheads over who should exercise authority there. According Wasiu Adekunle, the alleged killers planned to kill Akinyemi so as to intimidate others who are loyal to a rival Oba. “And after they killed him, they made attempts to sweep the matter under the carpet by hiding the remains of the deceased but, some neighbours who had earlier heard the deceased’s shout for help reportedly frustrated the plan,” he alleged.

The deceased’s body has been deposited at the Ifo General Hospital’s Mortuary.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Muyiwa Adejobi, said two suspects, who were the landlord and his son, have been arrested.

He, however , disclosed that, the Command has commenced an investigation, saying that, upon the completion of investigation, the suspects would be charged to court.

er oo,’ commented Oge this Tuesday morning while commuting to work.

“It seems the sun god is very angry with us that it decided to descend on us with fury. I mean, the heat is becoming unbearable.

For goodness’ sake, it’s just 9.00 in the morning and it’s already this hot, what happens at 12.00 noon?”

“Chei, human beings!

Extremely difficult to please. Thank God I am not God, otherwise, I would have wiped out the earth and everything in it.

We are a bunch of ingrates!” spat Joe. “Just a few days ago, we were complaining about incessant rainfall and floods, today, it is too much sun.

Which one una dey sef?”

Replied Oge: “We are only asking for moderation. We don’t want extremes. Haba! the thing keeps descending on us from morning till evening without let. At this rate, we will all be cooked one day.”

“Here we are complaining because of this little heat. What do you want those in Sokoto and Maiduguri to do?” asked Ify. “Please, that is a different kettle of fish. Their own heat no get part two!

Na die. Imagine a temperature of 48 degrees Celsius, no be Fahrenheit oo. That is 118.4 degree Fahrenheit. In fact, a friend of mine who served in Sokoto said you did not need to boil water for garri. Just get water from the tap and make your eba, it’s that hot. And in Maiduguri, if you are fasting, ensure you drink water, or else, your system dries up before you finish the fast because the rate of dehydration is very high. I also heard that in some places, you don’t wear rubber shoes on tarred roads because they will melt,” narrated Abel.

“Hmm, Radio Without Station, you don come again,” teased Mercy.

“But it is true. The weather in the far North is always extreme. Too hot, too cold, too windy, sandstorm, just name it,” stated Jane, coming to Abel’s defence.

“We are the cause of our misfortune. We have been abusing the environment for so long and it is payback time. We are reaping what we have sown, the reward of hard work,” said

Agnes.

“Dogon turenci! Long grammar! From drug abuse, to women abuse, to child abuse, to animal abuse, now it is environment abuse. How did we abuse the environment?” asked Abel.

“People still throw garbage into gutters and waterways, clogging them so that when it rains, the area becomes flooded because the water channels had been blocked so the water seeks alternative route. They still cut down trees, burn bushes, flare gas, etc. All these deplete the ozone layer which shields us from these unpleasant effects. I wonder why our witch doctors have not come to our aid.

Now that we need rain to cool the weather, our rain makers should rise to the occasion and become instant millionaires,” replied Agnes.

“Exactly! If all their claims of making or stopping rain are true,” concurred Ify. “They’ve got no such powers. They are jokers,” said Oge. “Jokes apart, there are genuine rain makers,” noted Sule. “Oh really?

Please we need to see them,” said Oge. “Ok, when the US authorities were predicting the coming of Hurricane Sandy, I swear, if any of these hungry witch doctors had come up to say he could make it go back from where it was coming, I assure you, the US Government would have come to pick him up with Air Force One, given him the kind of money he will never dream of in his entire life and made him a citizen with immediate effect. He will be an instant super star, sought after the world over. Who no like better thing?” asked Abel.

“They have no such power because if they did, they would have used it to better the lot of their children and relations.

Forget them,” said Mercy. “But remember that their power is only for evil and not for good,” Sule reminded everyone.

“We are so gullible, anybody can wake up and deceive us. No wonder God said ‘my people perish for lack of knowledge’ not for lack of activities or prayers. We are full of those but lack knowledge.

If you are knowledgeable, you cannot be easily deceived,” added Mercy.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012 — 21

Oil production kicks off at Okoro offshore field

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From left: Dr. Patrick Fay, Ambassador, Ireland Embassy in Nigeria; Mr Segun Aina, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN); Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN ) and Chief Lugard Aimiuwu, President, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) at the 46th Annual Bankers’ Dinner, organised by the CIBN, in Lagos. PHOTO: DIRAN OSHE

Gulf of Guinea plans N109bn methanol plant in Nigeria

BY MICHAEL EBOH

G

ULF of Guinea Oil Exploration Limited (GGOEX) is investing N109.02 billion ($700 million) in the establishment of a methanol plant in Nigeria.

According to a statement by the company, it is currently processing a

Due Diligence Assessment with the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria (GACN) and is also in discussions with the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The company said that the plant, with a capacity of 850,000 metric tonnes of methanol productions will be the largest in Africa, adding that the company has selected the Mitsubishi

NPA expresses concern over abandoned vehicles, sets up committee

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

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HE Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) has expressed fear over the number of abandoned vehicles in the port, promising to set up committee to address the situation.

Speaking during his maiden visit to the Tin Can Island Port Complex, Managing Director NPA, Mallam Habib Abdulahi, said, “For the exception of the port in Calabar and to a large extent Warri, one major thing that is very peculiar with the Nigerian port, is the number of abandoned vehicles on the road. They are to me, an eyesore. Some how, the vehicles have been there for a very long time; they are carcasses, they are dead things abandoned and nobody is doing anything about them.

“Unfortunately, because of our legal system, it appears that there is nothing we can do, but I think I have to be briefed or may be advised by both the Legal Department and Operations Department on how we can approach these abandoned cars, Abdulahi stated, stressing, “Am going to set up a committee to advise us on how best we could go about this particular

problem.”

Expressing further worry, the concerned MD explained that some of the problems are within the authority’s jurisdiction while others are National.

He said, “National in the sense that they are global, because they are affected by the world economic trend and what is happening in the international trade.

Anybody who is familiar with the economic trend of the world, would be quite aware that there is economic contraction, therefore there is lack of activities, am happy that even the terminal operators appreciate that.

“There are certain things that are based on constraints and the constraints are not only our own but externally influenced into the system. We will keep the Federal government informed so that they can come up with some polices that may address our problems.”

Commending the TCIP Manager, Barrister Efioita Ephraim, he said, “I have wanted to come out when we first took over the affairs of the organisation but my colleagues, the Executive Director appointed along with me are completely new to the system, I have to give them time to understand and appreciate our problem.”

KORO 14 field extension development well drilled by Afren and Amni International company have commenced oil production from the well from the existing Okoro main field wellhead platform (“WHP”), with the objective of establishing early production from the new field extension that was announced in January 2012.

The well, located offshore South East of Nigeria has been completed and brought onstream via the existing Okoro floating production storage offloading vessel (“FPSO”).

The Adriatic IX drilling rig has now been relocated to the Ebok field in order to undertake planned rig-based work, which includes the drilling of a development well to similarly establish early production from the Ebok North Fault Block discovery that was announced in May 2012.

Chairman of Afrem, Egbert Imomoh expressed deep satisfaction over the new production from the well.

“I am delighted that we have commenced early production at the Okoro Field Extension, just nine months after the initial discovery.

This is clear evidence that we are creating tangible value and volume growth from our ongoing exploration drilling campaign, and further testament to the Afren team’s fast track development capabilities.

“Not only will we see an outstanding economic return from early development wells that utilise existing infrastructure, but we will also gain valuable production experience and reservoir data that will assist in optimising the full field development solution.

Methanol Process (MMP) as process technology for the establishment of the plant.

The company noted that the project will be the first commercialscale installation of the MMP process in Methanol production technologies in West Africa and would be located at the Gas Industrial park in Delta State.

The company further stated that the cost of the project will be debtequity financed by the International Financial Corporation (IFC) and fund syndication from local banks.

“The ‘Delta Methanol Plant’ has a nameplate capacity of 2,500 metric tons of Federal Grade AA Methanol per day which is a key product for the chemical and petrochemical +3.10 150.40 industry in the production of Acetic Acid (solvents), MTBE (octane 2,464.00 +7.00 enhancer), Formaldehyde (resins, adhesives) and others. The new 19.91 +0.76 plant is expected to come online in 2015.

“The project is expected to enhance the monetisation of 111.60 +2.65 Nigeria’s huge Gas potentials,” the company stated.

89.42 +2.50 Engineer Emmanuel Ejemurua, Project Co-coordinator, disclosed CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING that the objective is to develop, own 154.75 155.25 155.75 and operate Nigeria’s first Methanol DOLLAR STERLING 246.1299 246.9251 247.7204 manufacturing and exporting plant, EURO 197.6777 198.3164 198.9551 in accordance with the aspirations FRANC 163.9822 164.512 165.0419 1.9077 1.9138 1.92 of Nigeria’s Gas revolution for the YEN 0.2797 0.2897 0.2997 diversification of the country ’s CFA WAUA 233.5371 234.2916 235.0462 economy and development of RENMINBI 24.2634 24.9009 24.9816 midstream industries from gas RIYAL 41.2634 41.3967 41.53 KRONA 26.4956 26.5812 26.6668 resources.

236.133 236.896 237.6589 He also stated that global demand SDR for methanol was growing at around CBN Exchange rate as at 20/11/20127 four per cent annually.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Poly Products to pay shareholders N10.39m dividends

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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LOY Products Nigeria plc will be rewarding its shareholders with N10.39 million dividend payment for the year ended 30th March, 2012.

The figure represents 121.7 percent increase over N4.69 million paid in corresponding period of 2011.

Analysis of the company’s financial statement filed with the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, showed that the dividend will be paid from N55.07 million profits made within the year.

Further breakdown of the results showed that the turnover for the period grew by 14 percent to N2.55 billion from N2.24 billion. The profit after tax rose marginally by 8.6 per cent to N55.07 million compared to N50.73 million posted in the same period of 2011.

While the cost of sales declined by 18.1 percent to N2.15 billion from N1.82 billion, selling/distribution expenses improved by 35.1 percent from N11.62 million to N7.54 million in 2011.

Other highlights of the results showed that fixed assets grew to N1.05 billion, compared to N994.07 million in the equivalent period of 2011, representing 5.3 percent increase. Total assets also went up by 16.2 percent from N1.75 billion in 2011 to N2.04 billion in the review period.

It would be recalled that Poly Products had at the last annual general meeting announced plan to delist from the Exchange, citing high cost of retaining listed equity status as one of the hindrances.

The Chairman, Poly Products Plc, Mr. Michael Bruce had listed other hiccups that warranted the plan to include lingering economic depression in the country as well as excessive cost of printing and distributing annual reports and accounts to its over 11,000 shareholders.

He said, “Various factors, including the general slowdown in the economy, high cost of doing business, statutory requirements of listed companies, cost of administering the register, cost of convening AGMs and Annual Reports & Accounts printing and postage pose difficulties for the company.

“There are 11,000 shareholders, 10,246 of whom hold less than 10 percent of the total equity. The administrative cost of managing such list is very high and it constitutes a significant drain on the resources of the company.”

He continued, “Between 2003 and 2008, the company faced severe problems that could easily have led to liquidation. Although this situation was averted, operational cost remain high.”

He assured that the company would work with the existing rules in determining the exit price that would be fair to the parties involved.

From left: Group Company Secretary of Unity Bank Plc, A’isha Abraham; Chairman, Board of Directors of the bank, Alhaji Nu’uman Barau Danbatta; Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of of Niger State; Executive Director of the Central Directorate, I. T. Mohammed and Divisional Head, Internal Audit, Mallam Bashir Adamu when the bank’s management visited the governor.

CMC to engage DMO, BPE, NERC on infrastructure bond

By PETER EGWUATU

T

HE Capital Market Committee (CMC) has disclosed that an arrangement is underway to engage the Debt Management Office (DMO), Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to showcase the need to float infrastructure bonds as part of its action plan for 2013, aimed at boosting activities in the market, even as it announced plans to commence its second retreat scheduled to hold in Warri, Delta State.

The committee also listed its achievement and successes since its first retreat that was held last year at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Some of the action plan for 2013, according to the CMC Retreat Chairman, Mrs. Sanni Toyin, include: Issuance of Infrastructure Bonds through liaison with the Infrastructure Regulatory Commission; Liaison with the BPE and NERC to develop framework for eventual listing of privatised power companies ; development of new Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) Products; greater impetus to research, structures, process flows, awareness programmes and capacity building in the above three areas; greater emphasis on increased investor participation in Collective Investment Schemes in(Q1 –Q4), enhancement of activities in Exchange Traded Funds ( ETFs) , Asset-Backed Securities, REITs, etc.(Q1 – Q2); attract public interest corporations to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.(Q1 –Q4)

and implementation of enlightenment programs for proposed products.(Continuous and as the need arises).

The CMC Retreat Chairman further disclosed that the committee has achieved some successes since its maiden retreat last year, saying, “Confidence has gradually returned to the capital market as participation level of retail investors has increased from 10 percent to 30 percent. It was one of our targets to get back the retail investors because we were worried when the level of foreign investors’

participation was 90 percent.”

Continuing, Sanni, said, “ We also contributed in ensuring that new products were introduced in the market as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) introduced market making, Exchange Traded Funds, amongst others.

“The Committee comprising of seven sub committees are working in unity irrespective of the subject matter to ensure the growth of the market.

We are currently working on ways of handling complaints internally before they get to regulators.”

Stockbrokers facilitate summit to restore investors’ confidence

By CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

S

EASONED market operators from APT Securities & Funds Limited, the BGL Group, and TRW Stockbrokers Limited have packaged a summit to help enlighten local investors on the opportunities for profitable investments in the Nigerian capital market.

The event tagged ‘INVEST 2013’ will hold on Saturday, 24 November 2012.

The summit, according to the promoters, Investdata Consulting Limited, a capital market, financial advisory and consulting company based in Lagos, would be delivered by some of the experienced operators and analysts.

The speakers expected to champion key market issues are Alhaji Garba

Kurufi, Managing Director of APT Securities & Funds Limited; Mr Tony Nwozor, Vice President, BGL Group; Mr. Abdul-Rasheed Momoh, Head, Capital Market, TRW Stockbrokers Limited; Lance Roland Fraser, business development director, the ProFin Group Holdings Limited.

“Opportunities abound in the capital market for sound investments and decent returns, but because of the unpleasant experiences many retail investors had in the recent past when they took heavy losses as the market crashed in 2008, many have lost the appetite for risk and some are downright cynical when the stock market is mentioned. That is unfortunate,” Chief Research Officer of Investdata, Mr Ambrose Omordion, said adding thatt the investment summit is thus conceivedtoeducateinvestorsandcorrect many erroneously held beliefs about the market.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012—23

DIARY Select ICT events zLTE North America 2012. Holds 14-15 November 2012 in Dallas, Texas, USA.

EDITED by Adekunle Adekoya

z Advancing Innovation & Profitability for a Digital Africa.

Holds 14 -15 November 2012 @ CTICC Cape Town, South Africa. z AfricaCom 2012.

Holds 14-15 Nov 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa. z Opportunities in the Evolving Cloud Dynamics. Holds 4-5 December 2012 @ Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE. zDigital TV Summit 2012. Holds 4th – 5th December 2012 in London UK.

New inventions shaping life and living

Exhale ceiling fan uses no blades

Furore, as NigComSat bill splits telecom community

BY EMEKA AGINAM

B

The Exhale bladeless ceiling fan creates an indoor breeze that’s smoother and quieter— and safer for cats.

Currently seeking funding on Indiegogo, the Exhale fan was inspired by Nikola Tesla, and features a stack of spinning discs that take advantage of the science of laminar flow to move air throughout the room.

The air is directed around the room in a 360° horizontal flow, moving with a smooth, uninterrupted stream and mixing the air in the room to eliminate hot or cold spots. The Exhale fan is currently seeking funding on Indiegogo

I N PC for S students: I Exploring D the tablet E option C M Y K

ARELY two weeks after telecom in dustry stakeholders sharply disagreed with the management of NIGCOMSAT over the relevance of a bill designed to make the governmentowned satellite company a corporation, more reactions and questions have continued to greet the bill which keen observers argued is antithetical to telecom deregulation.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Panel on Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, headed by former head of the Cuvil Service of the Federation, Mr Steve Oronsaye submitted its report to the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, saying that the proposed enabling law for NigComSat should not be passed, rather, it should now be fully privatized

because if its enabling law were to be passed it would be in conflict with the Act setting up the parent body, NARSDA (National Space Research and Development Agency).

Passage of the bill, the stakeholders noted at the forum sponsored by NIGCOMSAT and hosted by the IT Publishers Alliance amounts to creation of a parallel space agency that will compromise the Na-

tional Space Programme of the Federal Government.

The discussion on the bill at the forum which began with a note of controversy was rejected by key invited speakers like President of Association of Lincensed Telecom Operators, Engr. Lanre Ajayi, President of Nigerian Internet Group, NIG, Engr. Bayo Banjo, former President of AlTON, Engr. Emmanuel Eku-

,

,

Preview

zThe NigComSat Bill presently in the House of Representatives is generating furore in the telecoms community. Inset: Engr. Ahmed Rufai Timasaniyu, NigComSat MD.

I do not see a reason for this bill because the company is already a limited liability. The bill is not in the interest of Nigeria. It will not serve the purpose of Nigerians

Wired to the hilt: Inside Akpabio's new Governor's Office

Etisalat offers EasyFlex for voice, SMS, others

wen, Dr. among others.

Without mincing words, the forum while rejecting the bill advised NIGCOMSAT management to spare the industry of an unnecessary bill another white elephant project like the failed Nigerian Telecommunication Limited.

Not aware of NigComSat bill

Already, the Ministry of Communications Technology, the ministry supervising Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited, (NigComSat) had said in a report it was not aware of any bill seeking to grant NigComSat autonomy. The ministry said that its first intention was to privatize Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited for better performance.

The ministry was reacting to against the back-

drop of the clamor for autonomy by the Company through NigComSat Corporation bill that seeks to free the company from government control. The special assistant on Information Technology to Minister of Communications Technology, Mr. Ola Ogunleye, had disclosed that the ministry was only interested in making NigComSat play its role in making internet truly ubiquitous, affordable and accessible in the country.

Mixed reactions with opposition

It would be recalled that NigComSat’s bill to make the state satellite operator an independent corporation has stirred mixed reactions with huge opposition.

Meanwhile, critics have urged the national assem Continues on page 26

Android in Nigeria

24—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,NOVEMBER 21, 2012

O

PC for students: Exploring the tablet option

I

N the last take of this column, the Student PC Ownership Scheme of the Federal Government, powered by the Ministry of Communications Technology and its agency, NITDA, was the subject of discussion. Lauding the effort, I wrote, inter alia: “Overall, it is a commendable initiative, seeing that telcos are expected to connect the PCs with bandwidth, processors from Intel, software from Microsoft, credit from the banks. Obviously a lot of work has gone into preparing the scheme. The minister and her team are to be commended.”

My parting shot on that was on the price at which the devices are being offered. To recap, the first level is f r o m N48,500; the second level is N70,500 and the third level i s N85,000- N100,000. I also wrote that the price range “grossly underestimates the level of poverty in this country. I think Mr President ought to look at the scheme personally and see how the Federal Government can subsidize the scheme by at least fifty per cent.

That will be five-star national service.”

However, further rumination on the Student PC Ownership Scheme, as launched, indicated that one factor might have been left out; and that concerns tablet computers. The trend of computing, as we are all experiencing has moved from the desktop, to the laptop, and now to the hand-held devices. In other words, tablet computers are now the rave of the market and not a few Nigerians, including students that are being offered laptops now own tablet devices, whether it’s Apple’s iPad, or Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, or devices from other makers.

In an edition of this column published Wednesday October 26, 2011, I

wrote that what we need as a nation “is action that will enable our OEMs fulfil their desire for this country, which chiefly is that we should stop being a mass consumer of IT products from other lands but producers as well. From production, we protect these local brands by patronising them.”

I am pleased that the scheme launched by Mrs Johnson is action in this direction, but it can be made more wholistic by incorporating tablet computers. Afterall, all the OEMs that will be part of the scheme have been assembling and selling desktops and laptops for years. I recall again that India, our colonial sibling came out last year with what was heralded as the w o r l d ’ s cheapest tablet, and in commending it, I wrote that “India’s Aakash was the outcome of a conscious, deliberate programme that began two years ago.”

Still on the pricing: If we went the tablet PC way, we will be empowering more Nigerians than with laptops. Aakash II sells for R3,999 when last I checked. At N2.88090 to 1INR (Indian Rupee) the tablet sells for N11,520.72. Imagine how many more people will be able to afford the tablet PC if that option had been factored in.

Trust the Indians, Aakash is being sold in Nigeria under different brand names, and my intelligence indicates it is moving the market at a price of between N28,000 to N32,000! Datawind, makers of the Aakash tablet is selling the Ubislate brand online for INR3,400, which is even less than N10,000! I believe nothing is cast in stone, and as the e-Nigeria 2012 summit wraps up today, this is something we can all think about and work further on, in pursuit of the fivestar national service I mentioned last week!

Trust the Indians, Aakash is being sold in Nigeria under different brand names....I believe nothing is cast in stone

C M Y K

,

NLY those in gov ernment, and the few who have business with government (relative to the rest of the population) would know that apart from the new Government House built by the Akpabio administration in Uyo, the state capital, a brand new governor ’s office was being added to the landscape.

Well, governors are to have offices, if only to have space from where they can conveniently discharge the obligations of their office. Any office can serve that purpose, except that information and communications technology makes much difference in whatever we have to do these days.

And so it was that last Saturday of last month, President Goodluck Jonathan was in Uyo on a one-day working visit to commission the new Governor’s office, and lay the foundation stone for a new stadium, also in Uyo. In his speech at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Akpabio told President Jonathan that the new “Governor’s Office was conceived to meet the demands of an ever_changing world. It is not only ICT compliant, it has all the facilities needed for e_governance and contemporary governance. It replaces a building we met at the inception of this administration, which lacked space for visitors and facilities for the administrative controls needed in today’s world.”

Conferencing facilities The building lived up to the descriptions and enthusiasm of the governor.

The office comprises the governor’s personal office, a conference room, courtesy call room, lounge, multimedia studio, and an executive council chamber equipped with video conferencing facilities. Other facilities in the building include a cafeteria, waiting rooms, gallery, offices and press room.

What makes the building exotic is the use of ICT to control ingress and egress into the various room and offices there. For instance, to enter some offices, a visitor’s biometrics must precede him, otherwise, he may not be able to gain entrance.

Also, the council chambers, where the governor meets his cabinet, is another showpiece of ICT. As exco members take their seats, their video-conferencing facilities power on automatically; with the biometrics of each member.

Aniekan Umanah, Akwa Ibom’s Information Commissioner explained that if a commissioner, for any reason, drops out of the exco, system in fron of his

Wired to the hilt: Inside Akpabio's new Governor's Office

WIRED: The exco chamber in Akwa Ibom's new Governor's Office. seat would have to be reprogrammed before his replacement can use it.

Earlier on Friday, speaking with newsmen in Uyo, Governor Akpabio said that the old office”was an old structure, even before my administration. So there was need for a massive renovation and expansion of the structure of the state, which is a call point for visitors and investors. Therefore, the governor’s office is ICT

compliant, reflecting the personality of an Akwa Ibom child, which is a massive infrastructural turn_around in the last six years.”

Commissioning the ofice, President Jonathan said that the exco chambers in the Presidential Villa is analogue.

“I have to commend you for the work on the chambers; it is quite good. Even at the centre we are trying to change our own, it

is manual and it’s now that we are trying to change it to what you have done in Akwa Ibom State. I am indeed happy to be associated with this beautiful project and hereby commissioned this office complex for the use of Governor Akpabio and subsequent Governors who will be privileged by the grace of God and Akwa Ibom people to govern this great state.”

Etisalat offers EasyFlex for voice, SMS, others

BY EMEKA AGINAM

E

TISALAT Nigeria has introduced a flexible bundle package called EasyFlex that allows users to browse, text and make calls to any network without restrictions.

The new product is an allin-one plan which comes with four variants including Flex N1000, Flex N700, Flex N500 and Flex N300.

Speaking during the launch, Etisalat Chief Executive Officer, Steven Evans said, the company invested heavily in research in a bid to understand the needs, lifestyle and communication habits of its customers.

While restating the company ’s commitment to customer satisfaction, he said that this was at the heart of its business. “It is our brand nature to provide value for all our customers through our products and services. Our products and services are easy and simple to understand, and are tailored to help the subscriber get instant access to family, friends and business partners via voice calls, data and SMS. Etisalat has taken advantage of consumer insights to design easyflex which bundles, SMS, Data and Voice services all-in-one prod-

LAUNCH: CEO, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steve Evans and Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Wael Ammar, during the Etisalat EasyFlex launch last Monday. uct that offers the best value for money in Nigeria”, he said.

Also speaking, Etisalat’s Chief Commercial Officer, Wael Ammar said that migration to Easyflex is free and any customer seeking to enjoy the benefits of Easyflex should simply purchase the bundle of their choice by recharging N1,000, N700, N500 or N300 and dialing the required opt-in code.

“Easyflex is flexible because you can use the bundle for either local or international voice calls, SMS, or Pay-as-You-Go data or a combination of all these services without restriction. It also offers

lower tariff on voice calls, SMS and data thus giving the customer the freedom to make more calls, browse and text for less.”, he said, adding that, “As a customer-focused business in a highly competitive telecoms industry whose customers are increasingly becoming sophisticated, consuming more data, and embracing the use of smartphones, tablets and data-enabled devices, Etisalat continues to evolve. We continue to segment our market to create products that are suited to the demands of our customers. Easyflex is our latest response to the changing tastes and preferences of our customers.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012 — 25

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012 — 31

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, 21 2012—27

Furore, as NigComSat bill splits telecom community Continues from Page 23 bly to exercise caution to prevent the company from going the the way of Nitel.

Meanwhile, former President of Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, had at the forum fired the first salvo when he told the gathering that government has no business doing business.

White elephant?

He cautioned that the

bill, if passed, might give NigComSat the autonomy to operate as a business venture and as a regulator. This will go the way of NITEL, he said.

He noted that government has no business in doing business, but to create enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

He was supported by the President of the Nigerian Internet Group, NIG, Engr. Bayo Banjo who did not hide his feelins by saying that granting NigComSat autonomy will lead to the creation of another NITEL.

He argued that the bill will transform NigComSat to a fully-owned government company. “ Why do we need the bill? I do not see a reason for this bill because the company is already a limited liability.

The bill is not in the interest of Nigeria. It will not serve the purpose of Nigerians." he said.

He further said that rather than having the NigComSat bill passed, it should be jettisoned with the best option to have it privatised. For the President of ALTON, Engr.

Lanre Ajayi, NigComSat

might go the way of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited but warned that with the Act, it appears we are now putting it in the hands of the law makers.

“Satellite technology is a very desirable technology in Nigeria, noting however, that this was not to say that other terrestrial technologies are not very relevant but they are complementary. The major advantage of satellite is its ubiquity. In a country like ours, where we have many rural communities, satellite becomes

an option. If we must progress, we cannot run away from developing satellite technology and government must support this." he explained.

Need for accountability in the bill

In the submission of Dr. Jimson Olufuye, former Information Technology Association of Nigeria, (ITAN), Satellite project is a big budget project any where in the world that requires nurture and maturity before it is taken over by the business community.

“I think what matters the most is to ensure that there exists clear cut accountability mechanism in the bill for Performance Assurance. NASA in US got the US space transport business to a point before the industry could take over. Government funding is necessary to get a major business sector to develop. At the same time, the concern of wastage of public fund through such venture is a legitimate concern” he added. Hence, the critical question, according to Olufuye is: what measures are in the bill for performance assurance over a given period of time?

Satellite is critical national infrastructure

While supporting the bill, Yele Okeremi , member, Executive Committee of Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (Ispon) told the gathering that , "We must per-

ceive satellite communication as critical national infrastructure which requires everything to protect including legislation and we must sit down to see that we do everything to see that this bill become a law." He said that technology, social perception and legislation were the key things that must be present before a revolution can happen.

Support

Supporting the bill also was Victor Nwakesi , representative of Olisa Agbakoba & Associates, the law firm responsible for the drafting of the NigComSat bill. He explained that the bill was much desired, adding that the passage would aid Nigeria's emerging development issue.

“The contents of the NigComSat bill have been developed to align with what the laws allow. "NigComsat should be protected in the best interest of the citizens," he added.

But the Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Engr. Ahmed Rufai, who was completely amazed and disappointed by the submissions of the stakeholders said the stakeholders may have misunderstood the Bill,, and vowed to continue to pursue the passage of the Bill by the National Assembly.

Rufai said that the bill will allow NigComSat to raise additional financing and pursue strategic partnerships. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is said to have already passed the bill after three readings while the bill is yet to be discussed at the Senate.

DStv offers SUVs, LCD TV sets, more in mega promo

M

ULTICHOICE Nigeria has launched its largest promotion ever.

New and existing customers have the opportunity to win five Renault Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), ten return tickets to the forth coming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa, one hundred 40 inch LCDs and five hundred Walka 7 devices. Addiitional prizes include iPads and mobile handsets for those subscribers with DStv Mobile coverage.

This year’s promo, according to a statement by the company, is for both its DStv and DStv Mobile brands and will afford a “unique opportunity to provide more Nigerians the chance to become DStv subscribers at the cheapest rate ever for pay television in Nigeria”.

According to the Man-

aging Director of MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe, the current promotional campaign aims to achieve two objectives of rewarding loyal subscribers for their patronage over the years while also enlisting more Nigerians into the exciting world of premium television content at the lowest possible cost and with a lot of gift items in line with the festive season.

“The good thing about our promotional campaign is that we have considerably slashed the entry barrier such that the cost of acquiring a fully installed DStv system with three months subscription is less than the actual cost of the DStv system.

DStv has an additional four bouquets, with price reductions from N,100 to N,900 for Family. Compact, from N,500 to N,900. Compact Plus,

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012 — 29

30— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

BY JULIET EHIMUAN

I

F information is pow er, the internet has been one of the great equalizers in human history. As Ray Kurzweil said recently: today “a kid in Nigeria with a smartphone has access to more knowledge and information and capability than the president of the United States did 13 years ago". But extending these benefits to many parts of the world is a challenge.

Many African countries don’t have widespread or reliable land-line infrastructure, so more and more people are using mobile devices exclusively to access the internet.

Android devices are help-

Android in Nigeria ing to overcome this information access challenge in two ways -- (1) by driving down the cost of advanced mobile technology and (2) by making it easier for entrepreneurs to build new features and services.

Android handsets are now available for N25,000 or even less. The Huawei IDEOS, for example, is available for around N15,000. Other popular, affordable devices include the Samsung Galaxy Pocket and HTC Wildfire. As the cost of devices has gone down, the potential utility for users has gone

up. For over a decade, most mobile services in Nigeria have been SMSbased. These have worked well, particularly when used for trading and payments, but their functionality is limited. Basic phones lack the processing power and apps necessary for features like voice recognition, which can allow illiterate people to speak into phones to find information or translate between different languages. A smartphone with apps and access to the full Internet can provide people with new economic opportunities. On

the one hand, it helps existing businesses work or reach their customers more efficiently. On the other, it opens the door to new businesses as people develop local apps, which can truly change people’s lives for the better. Suddenly the cycle of engagement and innovation that was once the exclusive reserve of Silicon Valley is being pursued by people in Nigeria and other countries like Ghana, and Kenya. When people who get to town by okada are given powerful, affordable handsets, the effect is huge. Beyond “fun” apps like Angry Birds and practical apps

like Google Maps, access to information through the full internet and the right apps on an Android device can literally mean the difference between life and death. Here are a few apps and services that show the transformative power of Android and mobile technology.

Commerce

Businesses around the world need decent financial services to thrive, but traditional banks do not always reach the local level in emerging markets. In Nigeria, mobile money platforms such as Paga, GT Money help people make small transactions via text message. Android apps can enhance this experience and make it easier for people to manage their money. ReadyCash offers users a more convenient and easy way to do mobile transactions like transferring money between accounts, purchasing airtime, and paying utility bills.

ReadyCash also offers statements based on ReadyCash transactions, so people can budget their money better and see how they’re using it. This is transformative -- suddenly a woman who makes handmade crafts can start a business, sell her wares in local markets (or door to door, the side of the road, or anywhere else -- she no longer needs a physical presence) and accept payments without having to worry about cash being stolen. Speaking of markets, mobile devices can help to create more opportunities for local traders to reach larger audiences -- Google Trader allows people to buy and sell products and services and search for jobs from their mobile devices.

News

Sometimes, having access to the right news can be the difference between passing an exam, getting a job or getting ahead. In Nigeria, news is one of the major drivers of internet

traffic. Whether it is political, sport, or business news, Nigerians want be able to access news as quickly as possible. Mobile apps today help to aggregate information from different sources based on the preference of users. Apps like Naija Papers or Nigeria News gives easy access to the most popular news sources from Nigeria from an Android device. In addition to this, mobile technology also makes it possible for news houses to crowd-source news, thus making it possible for them to deliver breaking news as it happens. Battabox is an android app that allows Nigerians upload and share their videos on the Battabox channel so that other Nigerian can see.

Entertainment

The entertainment industry in Nigeria has come a long way- from the days when movies could only be seen in cinemas, to the introduction of the VHS and compact disc that made it possible for any Nigerian to watch home videos from the comfort of their homes.

The Android technology has now taken the experience even further.

Thanks to apps like YouTube and AfriNolly, today, Nigerians can watch movies, listen to music or or access any audio visual content on their phones, from any location. While this helps to create an avenue for relaxation, it also makes it easy to find Nigerian creative people who have put their contents online.

These are just some of the ways that Android and mobile technology are truly enabling economies and improving people’s lives in developing countries like Nigeria. zJuliet Ehimuan is the Country Manager, Google Nigeria.

IBM picks Lagos for Smarter Cities Challenge

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

I

BM has named La gos amongst 31 other cities globally selected for its Smarter Cities Challenge grant for 2013.

Launched in 2011, the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge is a three-year, 100city, US$50 million competitive grant program.

This is IBM's singlelargest philanthropic initiative globally, where the leading technology and business consulting company assigns a team of six top IBM experts to each winning city to study a key issue identified by the city's leadership.

Housing West Africa’s

largest and busiest air and sea ports, and with a population of about 16 million, Lagos is reputedly one of the most opulated, most industrious and fastest growing cities globally.

The only other African city selected by IBM for its 2013 Smarter Cities Challenge grant is Cape Town, in South Africa.

“IBM’s commitment to emerging markets remains unshaken and the Smarter Cities Challenge grant for the city of Lagos clearly demonstrates this,” says Taiwo Otiti, IBM’s country general manager for West Africa.

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Promo: Star consumers get early Christmas gift STORIES BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

V

ODACOM Business Nigeria, a provider of total communication solutions has launched its Machine-toMachine (M2M) solutions for the financial and retail sector of the economy.

The new Vodacom M2M solutions are dual-SIM enabled, providing reliable, secure and a cost-effective solutions for ATM, Point of Sales (POS) connectivity and BackUp applications.

The solution which includes ATMLink, POSLink and 3G Back-Up represents a milestone in scalable M2M technology in Nigeria. These next-generation solutions utilize the GSM data network to connect retailer ’s POS to the central servers or to the Nigerian Interbank Settlement Systems (NIBSS) network and the ATM to the bank’s central servers. It enables seamless network failover to a secondary GSM network in the event of failure on the primary network and vice versa, in which case, the user is oblivious to the network changeover.

C M Y K

The key concern among financial institutions and other retailers is data security, to which Vodacom has assured the market of the inbuilt security of its new M2M solutions. “Our solutions are built on a secure network and all transactions are encrypted

over the Vodacom MPLS network. We have put in place IPSEC tunneling, private APNs, SIM authentication and a host of security measures to provide much needed peace of mind,” said Abu Etu, Product Manager Vodacom Business Nigeria Vodacom’s M2M solutions are

able to offer connectivity in commercial districts and remote locations across all 36 states of Nigeria. This is done by using our extensive countrywide network and leveraging the reach of the GSM data networks.At 99% guaranteed availability, Vodacom’s M2M Solutions offer businesses the

ability to improve service delivery and increase their competitive advantage.

What’s more, M2M solutions are highly cost effective and offer real-time monitoring. They provide the customer with direct visibility of the usage and availability statistics of their devices.

Panasonic unveils new product at dealers convention

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ANASERV Nigeria Limited, authorized service agents for Panasonic consumer electronics

products in Nigeria in conjunction with Panasonic Corporation, Japan unveiled latest product lines of 2012

models to the admiration of consumers at the 2012 annual Panasonic dealer’s convention held in Lagos recently.

More companies sign on to BrandPower awards

A

S preparations enter top gear for the maiden edition of the BrandPower Awards for Distinction, more and more corporate giants have signaled their intention to be at the awards event which will feature brands and products experiential engagement and displays before the red carpet and gala night.

Speaking to newsmen at the Surulere corporate head office of the magazine last week, publisher and editor-in-chief

of the magazine, Nnanke Harry Willie, said the quality of the magazine, both in content and design, has endeared it to many corporate big wigs who have indicated their intention to fully participate at the high octane event which is strictly by invitation.

“We have been receiving calls and letters everyday from corporate organisations who want to be part of the event,” Willie explained. “For now, I will like to keep their names under

wraps until few days to the event.

We are simply overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support for BrandPower, he added.”

He noted that as part of preparations for the awards, a Citizen Impact Assessment tour of Katsina State was undertaken by the magazine week last week where the BrandPower team was warmly welcomed by the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema.

Some of the latest products line up of 2012 models that were introduced to Nigerian market include air conditioners, flat screen televisions, home theatre and music systems, digital still cameras and camcorders, home appliances and kitchen appliances.

Over the years, Panasonic Corporation has maintained a firm grip on air conditioning technology, leading the way with landmark product innovations that impact living.

The 2012 model ECONAVI dual sensor and SUPER ALLERU BUSTER FILTER with ECONAVI mono sensor air conditioners are completely inspired by nature.

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD AY, NO VEMBER 21, 2012 — 33 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA NOVEMBER

Did I over react?

Did she use me for sex DearBunmi, I met a fantastic woman last year when I went on a foreign course from my place of work.

We had more than six weeks together and had brilliant, passionate sex.

It was a mind-blowing experience and I really fell hard for her. We exchanged phone numbers and agreed to get in touch on our return to Nigeria.

But when I called, she was always busy until she yelled down the phone that I was pestering her and should leave her alone.

I was shocked to say the least. What kind of woman behaves this way? I was really serious about her- so much so that I thought she might be the one I would settle with. She’s not a teenager - she’s in her late 30s and both of us had been married before.

David by e-mail

Dear David, Women often feel they’re the only ones to suffer the way you do, but your experience shows that isn’t the case. Your

big romance was obviously a casual fling to this womanand she’s telling you to see it as just that.

Lasting relationships are built on friendship, humour and the exchange of ideas and dreams- not just hot sex.

Skip these stages, and you can find yourself besotted with someone you don’t really know.

Forget her, hold on to your dignity, and look for other ways to meet people until you find someone you share the same dreams with.

How can I choose between my daughter and my lover?

DearBunmi, After spending years alone, I finally found a man I care for and who cares for me. Our problem is my 18-year-old daughter. She’s spent most of her secondary school years in boarding schools and has to be at home now she’s trying to get into the university. She doesn’t get on at all with my man even though I confided in her how much he meant to me and solicited her support.

My man can’t understand why I’m so soft on her because when my marriage ended seven years ago and my ex set up home with another woman, my two children stayed with their father. My daughter was the one who decided to come back to stay with me and my man believes I should send her back to her dad if she continues to be difficult.

My man is toying with the possibility of relocating to his hometown where he has a very large farm to go into fulltime farming.

He’s counting the day my daughter gets into the university but as it is now, she has to wait until next year as she didn’t make her JAMB. Help!

Lara, by e-mail

Dear Lara, I appreciate your wanting to keep your man, but life will not be tolerable while your daughter feels so displaced by him. Your marriage breakup seven years ago and her being farmed off to her dad for months would have felt agonisingly long in the life of an 11-year-old. She may be fearful of another ‘me or him’

dilemma, so your daughter’s needs have to be on the front burner too.

She might be a big girl but she’s still your child. If your man must relocate, then you need to negotiate a realistic date when you can be with him on a permanent basis- say three years when she’s 21 and don’t give her the impression you couldn’t wait to see the back of her.

You can have a stern talk with her about behaviour that offends you but don’t reject her.

Let your man know that your daughter is still part of the package, but that if he can be patient while you give this phase your best shot, you will still have plenty of time to be happy together wherever you both relocate to eventually.

DearBunmi, MY boyfriend of four years currently doesn’t want anything to do with me. He is a university lecturer and seems to have more girls needing his attention on campus than men. They are everywhere. In his office and in the flat the university allocated to him.

I have a very demanding schedule as I work from home.

From time to time, I make time to make his lunch whenever he offers to come over. Sometimes he forgets to come and I take the food to him, only to find him in the company of these girls.

The last straw was when he specifically requested for food but failed to show up as usual.

I then took a food basket to his office only to find him eating with his girls. I was livid.

I quietly emptied the food on the rug and went off in a huff.

I haven’t seen nor heard from him since then and I am still angry to go and find out why.

Did I over-react?

Chioma, by e-mail

Dear Chioma, It is obvious that you can’t fully trust your boyfriend and he is not making much effort to reassure you. Behaviour like his would drive most women crazy except he doesn’t consider your relationship serious.

Why don’t you stop the domesticated bit and just enjoy his company? Go out with him when you can and if you believe in your heart of hearts that he is not the marrying kind, enjoy the relationship whilst you keep your options open.

Throwing tantrums and messing up his office could be scary- maybe that’s why he stays back. You both need to talk as to what you really expect from this relationship.

Four years is a long time to be kept in limbo.

"Get him to close his eyes and let him know your fantasy for him. For good measure, give him some heavy fore-play to ensure it’s a lesson he won’t forget!"

"Lasting relationships She's too aggresive in bed are built on friendship, tween being accommodating humour and the exchange DearBunmi, MY girlfriend of two years and a wimp? Most women only loves sex, she turns want a confident, assertive of ideas and dreams- not not really aggressive in bed. lover who isn’t afraid to take She’s like a sergeant major, control- real take control injust hot sex" barking orders all the time stead of asking for permis-

He has no clue on talking dirty DearBunmi, My last boyfriend used to talk dirty to make me climax.

He knew just what to say.

My new man, on the other hand, doesn’t talk during sex at all, and when I asked him to give it a try, he was awful.

How can I teach him to be more verbal during sex?

Amanda, by e-mail

Dear Amanda, To begin with, give the poor man a break by letting him take more than one shot before writing him off- I’m sure your ex had a little more time

to get to know you before the dirty talk started. When you asked your new man to talk dirty, did you tell him what to say or just throw him a hint and expect him to pick it up?

Men often don’t even see the complex sexual clues that women give, never mind decipher them. So, why don’t you teach him to do exactly what you want in bed? Get him to close his eyes and let him know your fantasy for him. For good measure, give him some heavy fore-play to ensure it’s a lesson he won’t forget!

and telling me what to do and when. I try to please her but she’s so demanding and this is very demoralising. Why can't she let me take control now and again instead of bullying me in bed?

Lanre, by e-mail

Dear Lanre, There is realiy a thin line between assertive and bossy, but has it occurred to you that there’s equally a thin line be-

sion.

Sex is a power game and if you want to play, you have to be prepared to take a considered risk. Decide to play the game your way for once and let her know by being firm and clear with your instructions that you’re in charge this time. Try gently showing her what you want and how to deal with it. Once in a while, let her have her way just as a compromise.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

34 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Henry pushes for another loan spell at Arsenal

A

RSENAL legend Thierry Henry has set his sights on a third spell at the Gunners.

The French striker has been told by the club he can keep in shape at their London Colney training base during the MLS off-season.

Fancy seeing you here: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with former Arsenal player Thierry Henry before the Tottenham derby Fancy seeing you here: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with former Arsenal player Thierry Henry before the Tottenham derby And Henry, aged 35, has not ruled out a second loan spell to help out Arsene Wenger ’s side.

He plans to hold talks with the manager when he reports for training in December.

Arsenal will lose lose Gervinho on Africa Cup of Nations duty in January for up to six weeks and doubt still surrounds the future of Theo Walcott.

The club’s all-time record goalscorer had a fairytale seven-match return to Emirates Stadium at the start of the year, extending his Arsenal scoring record to 228 goals.

RRonaldo onaldo returns to returns to Manc hester Manchester W

HEN he left for Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 for a world record transfer fee of £80million, the feeling among them was not so much one of disappointment but surprise that Sir Alex Ferguson had managed to keep the boy from the beaches of Madeira in Manchester for six years.

And to think, when Ferguson signed him from Sporting Lisbon for £12m in 2003, all the talk was of United paying over the odds.

Ronaldo will be back in town to play for the first time on Wednesday night when Madrid face Manchester City in the Champions League.

The late winner he scored to break City ’s hearts at the Bernabeu in September has only increased his popularity across town.

Ferguson prefaced his return at the weekend by raising the possibility of bringing the 27-year-old back to Old Trafford before quickly dismissing the idea because he is simply ‘unbuyable’.

He’s probably right but who could blame the manager for dreaming of re-signing a player who won the

Champions League, three Premier League titles and the FA Cup at Old Trafford?

However, the honours list doesn’t really do justice to a player who was simply a joy to watch from the moment he mesmerized Bolton after coming off the bench to make his debut in August 2003.

They love their wingers at United but this one was different. There was that short-step running style and the ability to inject a turbo boost of pace just when an opponent thought he had him in his sights.

Few people will forget seeing Ronaldo leave a trail of Fulham defenders in his wake as he burst forward over the halfway line in 2007 en route to scoring a late winner that helped reignite United’s title challenge.

Then there was the unique way he developed of ‘lacing’ a freekick that caused the ball to dip and swerve in the most unstoppable way. There were a few memorable efforts but the cracker against Portsmouth in Old Trafford in 2008 stands out. Ferguson described it as the best he had ever seen.

•Ronaldo

Ronaldo no match for Messi– Tevez

•Thierry

C

x De Jong proud of strong Aja

S

IEM de Jong believes Ajax have shown they are h a force to be reckoned wit e. gu in the Champions Lea The Eredivisie giants were in seen as the weakest team re we y the er aft D p Gr ou of s ion paired with the champ d an y an Sp ain , Ge rm

C M Y K

l England, yet they can stil ut ko oc kn the for qu ali fy h stages of the competition wit tch ma e “Th two games to play. the against Real Madrid was lly rea we ere wh e on ly on of one are y the t bu , led gg stru ,” rld wo the the best teams in . om al.c Go De Jong told

•Tevez

ARLOS Tevez has told Cristiano Ronaldo that he is no match for Barcelona star Lionel Messi ahead of Wednesday night’s crucial Champions League clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid. City forward Tevez plays alongside Messi for the Argentinian national team and he was a team-mate of Ronaldo’s at Manchester United from 2007 to 2009.

The pair are set to fight it out for the 2012 Ballon D’Or crown but Tevez, 28, believes that Messi would be deserving of a fourth successive crown.

‘I think it is only right if Cristiano Ronaldo does believe he is the best in the world,’ said Tevez. ‘Any guy who gets 37-40 goals a season has a right to believe that, but if you push me I am always going to go on the side of Messi.’

You’re having a laugh! Tevez thinks that Messi is better than Ronaldo You’re having a laugh! Tevez thinks that Messi is better than Ronaldo Tevez did, however, warn his City team-mates over the threat that Ronaldo will pose at the Etihad Stadium in what is a must-win game for the English champions if they are to stand any chance of advancing from the Champions League group stage.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012 — 35

Ibrahimovic, Barcelona top AP soccer rankings *Goal of the decade. Best goal of all time. Goal of the century

T

HE Associated Press’ global panel of soccerl voters agreed on one thing: Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s fourgoal spree for Sweden against England last week and his amazing 25-yard overhead kick goal made him the overwhelming choice to top the AP Global 10 soccer rankings.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker collected an astonishing 199 points - out of a possible 200 - from the panel of 20 journalists around the world. Each voter awards 10 points for his choice of the best player and team of the week, falling to one point for 10th place.

“It’s hard to look beyond Zlatan after his virtuoso performance and video game ‘golazo’ for Sweden against England,” said Will Tidey of the San Francisco-based Bleacher report, referring to Ibrahimovic’s bicycle kick.

Messi, who usually tops the rankings, trailed far behind Ibrahimovic in second place with 138 points despite scoring twice in Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Real Zaragoza. Liverpool forward Luis Suarez was third with 75 points.

“Messi was his usual excellent self,” James Porteous of The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong said, “making one and scoring two against Zaragoza as he homes relentlessly in on Gerd Muller’s record of goals scored in a calendar year.”

Barcelona jumped back into

•Ibrahimovic

the top spot in team rankings, three points ahead of Italian club Fiorentina, which won praise from panelists after it

HEO Walcott will miss Arsenal’s Champions League Group B clash against Montpellier on Wednesday with a shoulder injury.

The winger fell awkwardly following a challenge from Michael Dawson during Arsenal’s 5-2 victory over Tottenham on Saturday but was able to complete the match after receiving treatment.

Arsene Wenger has confirmed the 23-year-old will be sidelined for the ‘short term’ and will subsequently sit out Arsenal’s tie against the French champions at the Emirates, while Andre Santos will also miss out through injury. Wenger also revealed Kieran Gibbs and Gervinho are fit enough to be included in Arsenal’s squad after recovering from injury.

With four games played in

C M Y K

the Champions League, Arsenal sit second in Group B on seven points and trail leaders Schalke by a single point. Olympiakos are third having won two and lost two so far, while Montpellier are yet to register a victory but secured a draw against Schalke last month.

Meanwhile, Thierry Henry will train with Arsenal next month and could return for a third spell as a player at the club, Goal.com can reveal.

The club’s all-time leading goalscorer has been told by the club he can keep in shape at their London Colney training base during the MLS off-season.

Wenger wants to strengthen his squad with a striker in January and has made Atletico Madrid’s Adrian

Aquilani’s goals saw him garner seventh place in the players’ poll, his first appearance.

Australian clubs lure Beckham D AVID Beckham’s decision to leave the Los Angeles Galaxy is generating more speculation in Australia that the former England captain

Walcott out

T

moved into third place in Serie A with a 4-1 victory over Atalanta - featuring two goals from Alberto Aquilani.

Lopez his top target.

However, if Arsenal cannot clinch a deal for the Spain international, they are considering turning once again to Henry, who has j u s t completed h i s third season at New Yo r k R e d Bulls.

•Walcott

could make a move to the ALeague.

The 37-year-old Beckham has announced that his sixseason stint in U.S. Major League Soccer will end with the Dec. 1 MLS Cup against Houston.

Five Australian clubs have confirmed interest in bringing Beckham to the A-League, with the Melbourne Heart and Western Sydney Wanderers considered the top contenders due to the cosmopolitan nature of the two cities.

Last week, •David Beckham B e c k h a m ’ s management company denied reports he was certainly real. ... That is headed to Australia. absolutely legitimate,” Munn Perth, Adelaide and the said. “Let’s let David get Gosford-based Central Coast through next week, play the Mariners all expressed final of the MLS and interest, while Sydney FC hopefully he’ll have a win. and Melbourne Victory have Then I’m sure he’ll assess previously indicated they every offer.” won’t pursue Beckham.

Beckham has been a big “We’re putting forward an influence on the growth in offer. It’s compelling and the popularity of the MLS since opportunity is here for him to he joined the Galaxy, and come here,” Melbourne Heart even a short 10-week stint in chief executive Scott Munn Australia could generate extra said Tuesday interest in the fledgling A“What I can say is that it’s League.

36— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 , 2012

Man, 46, arraigned for N5.9m fraud Stoties by ONOZURE DANIA

•The Bridge

BY DONALD ARJI

R

ESIDENTS of Atimi community in OtoAwori local council development area of Lagos State, are living in fear following the ceaseless visits of a mysterious snake that kills their goats and threatens people. In the recent past, the community has been attacked by different species of reptiles.

On Thursday, November 15, 20012, shouts of snake! snake! rented the air as a 26- year-old boy, Kabiru who saw the giant snake sneaking into a compound raised alarm. Residents of the community abandoned their activities and rushed out with sticks andcutlasses to the scene.

There they saw a giant snake lying helplessly on the floor after swallowing a goat. Thinking it was dead, members of the community began to beat it with their weapons.

The snake reacted sharply by attacking them and in the process, two members of the community were wounded. Fortunately, it was overpowered after they hit it with wooden objects and matchets.

When Crime Alert visited the scene, Kabiru who raised the alarm narrated his experience. “I was

•The overflooded Canal

C-R-Y- F-O-R- H-E-L-P ...as python swallows goat and injures two in Atimi community

•Pastor Tony

The snake crossing into our street when I sited the snake on the floor with swollen stomach. Suspecting that it must have swallowed either a human being or an animal, I raised an alarm which got everybody rushing out of their houses with sticks and cutlasses to attack the snake. Although the snake fought so hard but God

helped us. We killed it after it had caused injuries to two people.”

The community leader, Pastor Tony Odogwu who confirmed the incident told Crime Alert that it was not the first time the community would encounter such visits. He revealed that the last time a giant snake invaded the community, it

PHOTO SPEAK

Vanguard editors examining Crime Editor, Emma Nndaozie’s award

swallowed a 12- year- old male child and the only child of his mother.

Odogwu noted that due to the bushes around the community which was caused by the over- flooded canals, residents of some houses that were affected relocated to safer communities.

Abandoning of buildings He added that landlords of the affected buildings abandoned their property and that this has given hoodlums the opportunity to rob people of their property in the area.

His words: “It is not the first time Atimi community will encounter such a dangerous visit because it is a yearly visit. We are really grateful to God Almighty that it only killed a goat and not a human being. Because the last time such incident took place,it killed a 12- year- old male child and the only male child of his

A 46-year old man, Umar Muhammed, has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, for alleged impersonation and fraud valued atN5,980,000.

Muhammed, who was alleged to have falsely represented himself as a Customs officer is facing a four-count charge of fraud, conspiracy, impersonation and stealing.

The police prosecutor, ASP Olakanmi Omisope, told the court that the fake custom officer, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N5,980,000 from one Mr Abubakar Jesema.

He alleged that the defendant falsely represented himself as a custom officer in charge of auction of impounded cars and used the medium to obtain the sum from Jesema.

Omisope said the defendant committed the said offence in January 14, 2012, at Ikeja, Lagos State, adding that he had no specific address.

The offence, he said, contravened Sections 78, 278, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

However, when the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty.

••Another faces robbery charge

•Kabiru parents.

“All these are happening because of the bushes from the over flooded canals which has chased many people away from the community making landlords to abandon their buildings and putting the lives of Atimi residents in danger because of attacks by reptiles.”

He said some lives have been lost through drowned during the rainy season and this has made the road which links the two communities known as Oke Ijewu and Jakande, impassable.

A 26 year old man Olabode Olayemi was arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court’s for alleged armed robbery. The accused with others at large is facing a two count charge, of conspiracy and stealing.

The police prosecutor corporal, Raphael Donny, told the court that Olayemi and others now at large, on August 27, 2012, at about 5pm, at Agric bus stop along Apapa Badagery Express way, stole two black berry phones, one Nokia phone and Techno, all valued at N500,000 and N37,000 cash.

Donny, said that the stolen property belonged to one Mr Momah Matthew of 3, Ogunremi street Akesan in Igando. He also alleged that the defendant, was found with a gun, during the robbery incident.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 , 2012—37

Police nabs Prison officer, three others for armed robbery

*The recovered cars.

•The prison officer with other suspected members of the gang.

BY ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE, SOKOTO

T

HE newly-created AntiRobbery Squad of the Zone 10 Police Headquarters in Sokoto has nabbed a Prisons officer and three others for armed robbery and car snatching.

Created by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG,Muhammadu Jinjiri Abubakar to fight crime within Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara police Commands, the Squad has in its nest, a suspected armed robbery gang who specialize in snatching vehicles of citizens at gun point.

Vehicles of citizens A statement by Deputy Zonal Public Relations Officer, DSP, Lawal Abdullahi, said: “The gang which is being aided and abetted by a serving member of the Nigeria Prisons Service, one Yunusa Haruna, 30, attached to Argungu Prison Headquarters in Kebbi State, met their Waterloo on October 10, 2012, following an intense surveillance based on a tip-off by good members of the society.

Investigation into the case by the Zonal Anti-Robbery Squad led to the flushing out and

apprehension of the remaining gang members namely: Saiba Aliyu , 30, Musa Salihu Kamba,50, and Musa Sulaiman,39, all of Sokoto metropolis, as parties connected with the heinous crimes of armed robbery and car snatching within Sokoto State

and its environs.”

It added that four suspected stolen/robbed serviceable vehicles were recovered at different places in Sokoto State.

“The vehicles recovered include two Toyota Corolla and one Honda Civic disguised with purported stickers of M.K

Motors, while a Honda ‘End of Discussion’ which was reported to have been snatched at gun point in Wuse II, Abuja, was equally recovered from the miscreants.”

Description and particulars of the recovered vehicles are: Honda Civic (Green colour) with engine and chassis nos D15B2-692111 and JHMET 865005223481; Toyota Corolla (Red colour) with engine and chassis nos 3ESHU1606AA1321 and JT154EEA100122293; Toyota Corolla (red colour) with engine and chassis nos 925 yp16-0140150 and JT 152EEA100024848; Honda (End of Discussion) with Reg. No AR 526 KJA. All the arrested suspects now in the police custody for thorough investigation, had made confessional statements to the Police mentioning the degree of

their involvements.

The AIG expressed delight with the performances of Zonal Anti-Robbery Squad, and vowed to adopt carrot and stick method of motivation to boost the morale of officers and men working under Zone 10 Command. While calling on members of the public whose vehicles were robbed or stolen to come forward with genuine documents for identification and subsequent collection on bond, accordingly, he added, “The Nigeria Police is ready and committed to reward any officer who performs gallantly in the discharge of his constitutional duties.”

The arrested suspect after full scale investigations, according to the statement, will be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction for prosecution.

Woman drags hubby to court for inserting pepper into her private part

BY ONOZURE DANIA

A

MIDDLE-aged woman, Foluke Olayiwola, has dragged her husband Festus Olayiwola to an Ojo grade A Customary court, for allegedly putting pepper in her private part and also trying to strangulate her.

Foluke, a teacher said she met her husband in December 1989, and after they got married, they have being living together until 1996, when her husband started suspecting that she was having affair outside their matrimonial home. She accused him of always beating her up at every slightest provocation and inflicting injury on her face which she showed to the court.

She said that whenever Festus sees her discussing with any man, without

knowing who the person is, he would always accuse her of sleeping with the man. “Each time I attended our landlord meetings, he would always accuse me of going to have sex.”

Foluke, who resides at 11, Obadiaya Street, in Ojo area of Lagos, said in 1996, she went to her sister’s place and after her return from the journey, he accused her of having gone to have sex with a man.

She said: “After much quarreling, I slept off and in the middle of the night, he put pepper in my vagina and I was feeling hot in my private part. The next day, I ran away to meet my parents and he later came to explain that it was Chinese balm that he put in my vagina.

“He continued with his accusation until on June 8, 2008, when he tied my neck with rope at night when I was asleep. Before then, I use to think that it was a dream and whenever I told him

about it, he would say it is a dream, not knowing that it was real. Until that fateful day, at exactly 12.30am, when he first tied my neck and I was turning on the bed, thinking that it was a dream. He quickly untied my neck. I looked at the time and saw that it was 12 .30am in the morning, so I pretended to be sleeping. After sometime, when he thought I had slept deep, he took the rope again and started tying my neck with it, I still pretended to be asleep, as he was still tying my neck, I just opened my eyes and he was shocked. Then, I asked him why he wanted to kill me after all the suffering I have been going through in his house.

“He now prostrated on the ground and started begging me, he even asked the children to help him plead with me, to forgive him, that it was the work of Satan.

I said in 1996, it was the work of Satan, today, in 2008, it is still the work of Satan.”

38—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Omawumi Urhobo celebrates 60th birthday

Dr. Omawumi Urhobo and her daughter, Miss Shirley Enebong.

Dr. Omawumi Evelyn Urhobo flanked by family members and friends as she cut her 60th birthday cake in Warri. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire

Chief Charles Ikomi and Engr. Gbesimi Akperi.at the event.

Dr. Omawumi Urhobo with well-wishers.

From left: Ijeoma Nweke, Lagos State Branch Secretary, Nigerian Red Cross Society, NRCS; Olufemi Bakare, Executive Director, First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB); Onibudo Mobolaji Ola, Lagos State Branch Chairman, NRCS and Ikechukwu Kalu, From left: General Abdulsalam Abubakar, General Ibrahim Babangida, both former Heads Group Head, Corporate Communications, FCMB, at the bank’s of State and Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, Kwara State Governor, during a condolence visit to formal presentation of N25 million cheque to flood victims, the Governor on the death of Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, former Senate Leader. through the Red Cross in Lagos..

From left: Dr. J. Shevel, President of Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI), Israel; Carina Baum, Director of Academic Affairs; Prof.

Samson A. Ayanlaja, Vice Chancellor of Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State and Michal Mizrahi, GIMI's Country Representative, during a recent visit to the CrawfordUniversity.

From left: Mr. Omamofe Boyo,Deputy Chief Executive, Oando Plc; Justice Fati Abubakar, Founder, WRAPA; Mr. John Odey, former Minister of Environment and Mr. Yomi Awobokun, CEO, Oando Marketing, at the Access Africa/Oando Marketing Plc Summit, in Abuja.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012— 39

LAWYERS IN DIASPORA:

Collaborating for effective dispensation of justice in Nigeria (2) convicted and sentenced him to 14 years’ imprisonment on the strength of the same evidence. Chief Ibori who had pleaded not guilty in Nigeria had to change his Map of Nigeria plea of not guilty to the charges before the British •Nigerian voting at a gubernatorial election...but can't Nigerians in diaspora also enjoy this privilege? court as he could not manipulate the legal system in the siana in his paper entitled: Law- ably. Lawyers cannot function efBY FEMI FALANA UK. Unlike the Nigerian lawyers yers in Fragile Democracies and fectively as lawyers if the judges LEARLY, participation of involved in the case their British the Challenges of democratic cannot function effectively as Nigerians in the Diaspora colleagues saw themselves, first judges.

They also cannot be esConsolidation: The Nigerian Exin Nigerian electoral process is perience, “The legal profession is pecially effective agents for dem- and foremost, as officers of Her not only a civic responsibility; it often the most dominant and the ocratic reform when they live and Majesty’ Court. Hence Chief is a fundamental right of every most influential profession in Af- practice in a cultural milieu dom- Ibori was properly advised to terNigerian of voting age. This way, rica and is non peril in influence inated by violence, anomie, and minate a bad case and plead the BNLF will be performing one over policy, defence of rights, and antinomianism.” Okon- Lawyers guilty. More so, that his wife, sisof its important functions as body the pursuit of justice. Because of in Fragile Democracies and the ter, mistress and lawyer had been of social engineers and developtheir status, special skills, and Challenges of democratic Consol- convicted and jailed for assisting ers of the civil society. Lawyers training, lawyers have the oppor- idation: The Nigerian Experi- him to commit the offences. as social engineers should be Another case that should be of tunity and indeed the obligation ence, problem solvers and ones, in the interest to Nigerians is that of Mr. In the eyes of the storm: Deto help attain the nation’s politiwords of Roscoe Pound, “whose Erastus Akingbola, CFR. Followcal imperative of consolidating spite these institutional challengcalling is to make a social process ing his removal as the Manages, however, the legal profession democracy. or activity achieve its purpose and the Bench have been in the ing Director of the Intercontinenwith a minimum friction” because eyes of the storm in recent years tal Bank plc in 2009 by the CenPragmatic law is the most highly developed as there is a general perception tral Bank Governor, Mr. Sanusi form of social control. In order to constraints by the general public that Nige- Lamido Sanusi, Akingbola fled drive home the importance of lawthe country and stayed briefly in Unlike their colleagues in sta- rian lawyers have not been very yers to the development of the civil society, Harold Lasswell and ble democracies, however, African Myres McDougal in their 1943 lawyers face a phalanx of harsh Justice Abiru’s elevation ought to have article posited that law schools realities and pragmatic constraints that severely limit their ability to should train lawyers to be social been delayed for a couple of months or engineers, offering “conscious, deepen democracy, or even to perthereabout, to allow him to conclude the efficient and systematic training form their traditional functions.

Africa’s distinctive problems inAkingbola case and similar matters in the for policy-making.” clude political instability, sonational interest cial disequilibrium, insecurity, corruption, ineffective and effective in helping to curb the the United Kingdom. He, inefficient public institutions, excesses of the politicians and however, returned to Nigeria to a declining economy, and the assist in the fight against corrup- face the myriad of criminal allelack of a democratic culture.” tion due to the lackluster way in gations levelled against him. The In Nigeria, leadership failures which some of these cases are Economic and Financial Crimes and the resulting social dise- being handled. For instance, it is Commission promptly slammed quilibrium constrict opportu- generally believed that the trials money laundering charges of nity for professional practice of some former governors who are N10 billion against him at the and disable lawyers from pur- facing charges of corruption and Federal High Court in Lagos. suing their professional call- abuse of office have been stalled The case was dismissed in his by lawyers due to series of frivo- favour due to what the trial judge, ing with zeal and creativity.

Impediments lawyers in lous motions including stay of Justice Clement Archibong Nigeria face: The most seri- proceedings, adjournments, and blamed on lack of diligent proseous impediments that lawyers interim, interlocutory and perpet- cution. The other charge of N47 FEMI FALANA in Nigeria face as they seek to ual injunctions by their lawyers. billion fraud filed against him has There was also the James Ibori almost been concluded as it was deepen democracy include: Partnership of NBA and “(1) the general insecurity that case which was jumbled by se- adjourned to November 15, 2012 BFNL: As social engineers, law- makes “normal law practice” pre- nior lawyers in Nigeria with co- for address. But the trial judge, yers in Nigeria work under a very carious; (2) judicial corruption; (3) vert support of a section of the Ni- Mr. Justice Wale Abiru has been complex and archaic legal system inefficient and ineffective public gerian judiciary only for nemesis appointed a Justice of the Court that requires the support and col- institutions; and (4) a lack of dem- to catch up with him in Dubai, of Appeal by President Jonathan laboration of our colleagues ocratic culture. Lawyers reach UAE before he was deported to on the recommendation of the abroad particularly, your eminent their fullest potential when the the UK. Although the 171-count National Judicial Council.

Thus in line with the Supreme group. According to Dr. Okechuk- rule of law thrives, the society is charge of corruption, fraud and wu Oko, Doddon-Hooks Profes- stable, and where institutions, es- money laundering filed against Court case of Ogbunyiya V Okusor of Law, Southern University pecially the judiciary, function him was dismissed by Justice do (1979) All NLR 105, the trial Law Centre, Baton Rouge, Loui- honestly, efficiently, and predict- Marcel Awokulehin of the Fed- judge has ceased to have juriseral High Court, a British judge diction. The legal implication of

C

,

his Lordship’s appointment at the tail end of the marathon criminal trial is that the case has been technically resolved in favour of the defendant. In other words, Akingbola has been discharged a second time due to the manipulation of the criminal justice system by the National Judicial Council made up of senior judges and lawyers.

While the competence of and integrity of Justice Abiru as a member of the Court of Appeal cannot be questioned, his Lordship’s elevation ought to have been delayed for a couple of months or thereabout, to allow him to conclude the Akingbola case and similar matters in the national interest.

Conclusion of civil cases Having returned from exile in the UK to face his trial Akingbola cannot be blamed for the inelegant and irresponsible manner the State has handled his cases.

Having regard to the fact that a British court has concluded the civil case filed against Akingbola in London and ordered him to pay £654 million to Access Bank Plc the shoddy prosecution of the criminal cases in Nigeria has once again called to question the commitment of the Federal Government to fight corruption. Instead of wasting huge resources on the prosecution of criminal cases programmed to fail the Federal Government should stop exposing the country to ridicule and playing on the collective intelligence of Nigerians.

The list of corruption cases that have been compromised by the legal system is endless to the extent that according to a recent survey conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and National Bureau of Statistics with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the “Nigerian courts of law receive the biggest bribes from citizens among all institutions in which corruption is rampant”. The survey particularly stressed that “though bribery in the judiciary was less frequent than in many other agencies, it required the biggest transactions”.

To be concluded

,

40—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

GRADUATION: From right— Reverend Sister Mary Christopher Ibegwam; Dr. Ahiaoma Ibegwam, who bagged a P. hD degree; her husband, Mr. Fintan Ibegwam of Vanguard Newspaper; and daughter, Miss Chiemezie Ibegwam, at the convocation and award of doctorate degrees of University of Ibadan, last Saturday.

NSG moves for Natn'l Dialogue

BY DAPO AKINREFON

N

IGERIA Summit Group, NSG, has restated that it does not intend to convene a Sovereign National Conference but rather a National Dialogue to address the country’s problems.

Executive Secretary of the group, Mr. Tony Uranta, who said this in Lagos at an expanded National Working Committee of the NSG, noted

that Nigerians were at liberty to turn the National Dialogue to a Sovereign National Conference.

Uranta said: “We are working on the process to bring about a National Dialogue with the intent to create equal Nigeria.

“We are not asking for a Sovereign National Conference but for a National Dialogue. However, if Nigerians choose to turn the dialogue into a Sovereign National Conference, so be it.”

PIND begins forum on poverty reduction

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ORRIED about the level of poverty in the Niger Delta region, Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, PIND, will today begin a two-day forum on poverty reduction issues and partnership towards address-

ing them.

According to the Coordinator, Mr. Micah Mendie, the forum tagged Supporting Poverty Reduction Through Partnership , is billed to hold at Novotel Hotels, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Akama-Amorji landowners to get clearance

E

NUGU—CHAIR MAN of AkamaAmorji Nike Land Committee in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Chief Anthony Anike, has adviced landowners in the community to come forward with the documents of their transactions to the community’s Town Hall for proper clearance.

Anike told newsmen it would help prevent the landowners from falling into the hands of dubious land speculators as the exercise will last three months.

He urged landowners in the community to ensure that he (Anike) signed all the documents relating to all land deals in the community as he has the power of attorney.

Ibiono Ibom hold IWADA Day

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BIONO Ibom Welfare and Development Association, IWADA, Lagos, the umbrella organisation of Ibiono Ibom people of Akwa Ibom State resident in Lagos, will mark IWADA Day on Saturday at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

The event, held every four years, will be chaired by Dr. Ini Urua, Vice President,

Africa Finance Corporation.

Time is 12noon.

President, IWADA, Lagos, Akparawa Engr. Tony Udoekong, said the event will feature the conferment of awards on deserving Nigerians and presentation and launching of special edition of Iwada Bulletin and 2013 Almanac.

FOUNDATION: From left— Mr. Segun Lawal, Dance Director, Corporate Dance World; Mr. Bimbo Obafuwa, Director; Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, Provost-elect, LUTH, and Prof. Dapo Obafuwa, Vice Chancellor, LASU, at Evening With Dance by The Dance Deal Foundation in Lagos, weekend. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

Delta monarch, PHCN on warpath over N2.2m transformer

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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A R R I — PA R A MOUNT ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu and the Benin Electrical Distribution Company, BEDC, are flexing muscle over the failure of the power firm to install, connect and commission a private transformer, a year after collecting statutory charges and other fees, amounting to N2.2 million.

Solicitors to the monarch, Seimode and Associates, in a letter, dated October 22, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, BEDC, Engr.

E. Umoren, said the Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in September last year, released/granted one 300KA, 33/0.415KV transformer for the palace annex, situated at PereBotu Street, Edjeba, near Warri, to serve the palace and its neighbourhood.

Application

He said a formal application was made to PHCN for installation, connection and subsequent commissioning, via a letter, PHCN/ 26160/BM/ENG/0.1/707/ 2011, dated November 5, 2011, entitled Payment of Statutory Charges it conveyed approval.

Pointing out that the agreement between the management of PHCN and the monarch was an enforceable legal arrangement between the contracting parties, the solicitor stated that over one year down the line, the establishment was playing hide and seek with the royal father.

He said: “Our client,

who has incurred expenses, has been severely rattled and agonised, consequent upon your establishment’s endless games of internal intrigues and politics and/ or antics in the face of our client’s dire need for the said services.”

PHCN blames NNPC

When contacted weekend, Umoren told Vanguard that the problem of non-commissioning of the transformer arose out of a dispute between the monarch and Nigeria National

Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Residential Estate in Edjeba.

He said NNPC raised some issues concerning the request to connect the transformer to the priority PHCN high-tension line to the NNPC residential estate.

Vanguard gathered that NNPC had raised concerns about electricity supply to the residential estate if the transformer is connected to the national grid through the dedicated high-tension line.

PHCN Business Man-

ager, Warri District, Engr.

A. Umeojiaka, assured in a letter, dated January 23, to NNPC that the project “will not in any way be a hindrance to electricity supply to your Housing Complex as being speculated by your staff.”

Despite the approval of the connection of the transformer by NNPC, in a letter dated July 9 by the Zonal Manager, Warri, with a condition that the connection must occur before the line that enters into the NNPC residential estate, the process is still

Rep advocates review of Police Act

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

D

EPUTY Chairman, Media and Public Affairs in the House of Representatives, Victor Ogene, has called for immediate amendment of Chapter 4 of 1999 Constitution, which is responsible for high incidences of police extra-judicial killings, torture, detention without trials, long detentions arising from committal proceedings and abandonment/non-state compensation of the victims of violent crimes.

He also faulted Order 237 of the Nigeria Police Force that makes mindless killings possible under the guise of crime fighting and prevention, lamenting that the order is constitutionally backed by relevant subsections of Sections 33 and 35 of the Constitution.

Ogene said: “These subsections are in conflict with their mother sections and inconsistent with the African Charter on Human & Peoples’ Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International

Covenant on Civil & Political Rights, the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime & Abuse of Power, the Basic UN Principles for the Use of Firearms by Law Enforcement Personnel and the UN Code of Conducts for the Law Enforcement Officers.

“Nigeria has either signed, ratified or domesticated all of these.

“As a result, we dutifully recommend for the re-working of the subsections and paragraphs under Chapter 4.”

Oil firm assures host communities

BY FESTUS AHON

G

ENERAL Manager of SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Bright Oghor has assured host communities of the company’s readiness to adequately compensate for land and crops lost as a result of the company’s operations in the area.

Oghor, represented by

the company’s Community Relations Manager, Mr. Lucky Obiuwevwi, spoke during an interactive session with the host communities.

He said the company, which operations cut across Delta and Edo states, was committed to its corporate social responsibility and fulfillment of its Memorandum of Understanding,

MoU, with the host communities.

According to him, the company was out to ‘’build and sustain a world class oil and gas company in partnership with all stakeholders,’’ even as the firm was committed to excellent oil exploration operations hinged on excellent community relations.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012 — 45

UK backs Nigeria on Mali mission

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

BUJA—THE United Kingdom, yesterday, announced that it would provide needed support for Nigeria and ECOWAS in their bid to dislodge the group of face-less terrorists that have hijacked strifetorn Mali and made peace hard to come by.

A military intervention force of 3,200 troops, to be led by Nigeria, is set to storm Northern Mali, which is under severe attacks orchestrated by alleged Al Qaeda sympathisers and this had made life difficult for Malians and subsequently delayed the political transition programme.

Speaking, yesterday, in Abuja, Special Envoy to British Prime Minister on the Sahel, Mr. Stephen OBrien, said Britain appreciated the role Nigeria was playing in the sub-region.

He said it was the same reason that made the UK

government resolved to contact the country on what could be done to assist in the restoration of peace in Northern Mali.

O-Brien, accompanied by the acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Giles Lever, and two others, told newsmen that whatever assistance his country would give would largely be determined by Nigeria.

He also promised to seek further help from the international community.

Acting Minister of Defence, Dr. Olusola Obada, told the visiting Special Envoy that the ECOWAS Heads of State had resolved to send the troops to restore peace and security in the affected part of the troubled nation.

She said the menace of terrorism in the Northern Mali had been “a great concern not only to everyone in the sub-region but also to the international community.”

Can't arraign Boko Haram suspects until... —IG

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

BUJA—INSPECTOR-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said, yesterday, that detained Boko Haram members would not be put on trial until the anti-terrorism bill was passed into law by the National Assembly.

He also directed increased patrols and protection of worship centres across the country by AIGs and commissioners of police, especially in the North-West and North-East zones, as the Yuletide approaches.

He warned that attacks on churches and religious places will not be tolerated.

Answering a question as to why suspects of the sect were put in detention without trial, the IG said: “We cannot arraign them before any court until the anti-terrorism

bill is passed.

“We want it passed because it will reduce the cases that have been pending and the number of detainees for terrorism crimes that we have.”

He said passage of the bill will enable quick

prosecution of Boko Haram suspects.

He said: “It is a fact that we have improved security in many states of the federation. But states in the North-East, comprising Yobe, Borno, Bauchi and Adamawa, have serious security challenges.

“The states in the

North-West, such as Zamfara, Kaduna and recently, Taraba, are giving us problems. All CPs are putting in their best.”

He said sanctions will be visited on Command CPs that failed to rise to the occasion in the fight against crime, robbery attacks and insecurity in their states.

Northern, Southern elders meet over insecurity, corruption

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, Deputy Political Editor

W

ORRIED that the country might implode given the rising wave of insecurity and corruption, elder statesmen and eminent persons drawn from all parts of the country brainstormed in Abuja,

yesterday, to hammer out solutions to the twin menace.

Chaired by legal luminary and Chairman of The Patriots, Professor Ben Nwabueze, the meeting, which was hosted by former Finance Minister, Malam Adamu Ciroma, Vanguard gathered, was held at the Yar ’ Adua

Centre.

An insider told Vanguard that the elders feared that the country was speedily being pushed to disintegration.

The source said: “We want to save Nigerians from embarking on selfhelp and total collapse because of increasing insecurity, violence, kidnapping and corruption, which are horrible.

“About 90 of us from all zones of the country attended the meeting.”

‘Constitution amendment's cosmetic’

Fearing that the ongoing constitution amendment exercise might not yield the desired result because “the amendment is cosmetic and those doing it are also corrupt,” the elders also raised a 12-man committee, led by Malam Ciroma, to fashion out an understanding between the North and South on national conference and joint action against corruption.

The panel, the source disclosed, would meet in two weeks time and might tour all parts of the country in search of understanding and unity among the citizenry.

Roll call

Notable persons at the parley include Prince Tony Momoh, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, Professor Jubril Aminu, Senator Adamu Abdullahi, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, Mr. Wale Okunnyi.

Others were Ms Ankio Briggs, Hajia Najatu Mohammed, Alhaji Ahmed Yayale, Dr. Haba Alli, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Chief Solomon Asemota, Senator Felix Ibru, Alhaji Yerima Abdullahi, Ismaila Isa and Senator Bassey Henshaw.

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Minister Baldwin Spencer of the Republic of Antigua and Barbuda and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.

Others included Chief Debe Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Eze Hycinth Nwabueze Ohazulike (OON), Eze-Ndigbo Lagos State; Chief Olabode George, former National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP); Chief Olatunji Shelle, Lagos State PDP Chairman;Chief Sonny Iroche, Igbo leader; and Chief Udoka Udeogaranya, coordinator ZIKDAY Initiative.

Lauding the high ideals and values of nationalism preached and practiced by Dr. Azikwe and his remarkable efforts in Nigeria’s attainment of independence in 1960, they urged the nation’s political gladiators to play politics devoid of corruption, rancour, violence and see the county’s unity beyond ethnic and religious sentiments.

Ojukwu's son, others remember Zik of Africa

Ideals of nationalism *Chief Debe Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Eze Hycinth Nwabueze Ohazulike (OON), Eze-Ndigbo Lagos State; Chief Olabode George, former National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) at the ocassion.

I

F Nigeria’s first indigenous Governor-General and President, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, been alive, he would have been

M

ANY years ago there lived a man of God named John Zachariah. Living at the same time was a debauched governor named Herod. Even though Herod had ensured that some democracy dividends trickled down to the populace, his irrepressible libido was a problem to him, his family and his advisers.

That was in addition to other vices including corruption, election rigging and crass disobedience to the legislative house.

Many people were thus not surprised when news reports filtered into the country that Governor Herod who was outside the country, allegedly on a trip in search of foreign investors had been filmed in a romp with his younger brother’s wife.

“Outrage as Herod takes Claudia for wife,” an internet blog reported.

The news also reached the Camp Ground located on the major road leading into the federal capital from where Mr. Zachariah abode with many of his trusted followers.

When Mr. Zachariah heard the news, he placed a call to a trusted diplomatic source who had sought his friendship on account of his, Zachariah’s refusal to conform with the practise of other religious leaders. It was no news that almost all religious leaders C M Y K

108 years last Friday.

Remembered for his leading rolein the fight for the country’s independence and his quest for a pan-Nigerian society, a host of eminent Nigerians did not allow

the day to pass without paying tributes to the Great Zik of Africa.

They congregated at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Lagos to celebrate Zik’s 108 posthumous birthday.

POLITICAL METABOLISM with

EMMANUEL AZIKEN

Our pastors, politics and poverty had been compromised one way or the other by Governor Herod.

It was no surprise that Herod’s aides and several religious leaders intermingled at exquisite shops and Herod himself was a regular face in the birthday and wedding functions of the religious leaders. But Zachariah was an exception.

Once he confirmed the story to be true, Zachariah made it an issue in his sermon that day, leading prayers for God’s mercy on Governor Herod.

That, however, turned out into an embarrassment for the government as some members of the political opposition present at the service used that as a confirmation to the story.

Many of Zachariah’s followers were, however, afraid knowing the brutality of the governor and his aides.

Governor Herod had been known to sponsor the kidnapping and assassination of opponents.

So when word of what transpired at the Camp Ground

Governor Herod who was outside the country, allegedly on a trip in search of foreign investors had been filmed in a romp with his younger brother’s wife

,

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

,

reached the Governor ’s Mansion that day, government officials were livid. Governor Herod still frolicking with his brother ’s wife abroad was ignorant of developments at home. But to many of the citizens, he had travelled abroad in the search of foreign investors.

In a desperate move to suppress the rumour, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication, Mr.

He was born on November 16, 1904 in Zungeru, Niger State.

Among those who recalled Zik’s virtues and ideals and beckoned political leaders to the late nationalist’s ideals were Prime Nehemiah Sati after consulting with the Chief of Staff decided to refute the rumour.

His press statement traced the rumour to Zachariah who he claimed was now in cahoots with the opposition to discredit the administration just as he disclosed that security agencies have been ordered to wade into the development.

Zachariah was arrested just before Governor Herod’s return to the country. At the international airport to receive him were senior officials of the administration who as usual had arranged a band of press men to receive the governor from his ‘foreign investment drive’.

The chat with the airport correspondents was going on smoothly until one reporter who stumbled upon the chat and was as such not coached by Sati asked Herod’s reaction to the allegation by Mr. Zachariah that he had taken his brother’s wife.

It touched a raw nerve which immediately aborted the press chat. The Special Adviser on Media who was left to manage the sore development immediately set about pleading with the newsmen to drop the story.

Once the raging Governor Herod alighted at the Government House he immediately demanded for Zachariah as the adrenalin in

Chief Debe-Odumegwu Ojukwu, son of the late Biafran leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who chaired the occasion, said Dr. Azikiwe would forever be remembered for the high virtues and ideals of nationalism he

Continues on page 47 him bayed for blood.

Zachariah who had been badly bruised by Government House security operatives could barely walk and had to be held up to stand. As he entered inside the Governor ’s residence and spotted Herod his strength returned.

“You king of the brood of vipers, must you take your brother’s wife upon all the iniquities you have done?” Zachariah bellowed.

Herod who had expected the man to plead for mercy turned from fury to fright as the words of Zachariah pinched at his heart.

Guilt was written all over him.

This same preacher was the one that told him that his election was rigged even when all other religious leaders were falling over themselves to congratulate him.

The same Zachariah had rejected the car he gave to all the other religious leaders, asking Herod where he got the money to buy the cars. Even though Herod kept him in custody, his conscience was never at peace.

He was even more troubled when a cousin of Zachariah's surfaced with his own denunciations. "Blessed are the poor in spirit," was the message from Immanuel Joseph that neither Herod nor the religious leaders craved. It is the same today!

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012—47

Why N/West should wait till 2031 — Sen Amange from the area. So if you are talking of unemployment, it is a general problem.

The way out of the Boko Haram is to ignore them where you can and attack them where you can. It should not be taken as a national problem. Yes security measures should be taken especially areas that are likely targets but it should not be seen as a national problem. It is a political creation.

SENATOR Nimi Barigha-Amange is a close associate of President Goodluck Jonathan from Bayelsa State.

In this interview he gives reasons why the Northwest should wait till 2031 to contest the presidency, says the Boko Haram insurgency is political and gives reasons why State Police should be established.

Excerpts:

BY BEN AGANDE

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HAT do you think should be the focus of the ongoing constitution amendment exercise?

I don’t believe that we need to create more states because the more you create, the more the demands. It is better for us to stay with the present arrangement except to balance the geopolitical zones; it would be okay to create an additional one state in the south east. We should not create more than one state in the south east so that they too can get six states in the zone.

Outside that, I want the local government to be removed from the constitution as a third tier of government. Allow each state to create as many local governments as it can. The allocation from the federation account should be shared to the two tiers of government; the federal and the state governments.

Each state should manage its affairs in terms of the second tier of government they want to create. They can also create a third tier of government. Because we now tie local government to federation account, people begin to clamour for more local governments. Those who are producing the wealth have less

local governments. The military used their fiat to create many local governments for some areas while some areas are shortchanged. I am of the opinion that we should scrap the local government as a tier of government. It should remain under the state governments.

What of the call for the setting up of state Police?

There is nothing wrong with having local police no matter the name you call it. I know people are afraid of state police because we are not mature for it now.

Those who are in authority will use it against opponents. But let us not forget that they will not be in office for ever. If we are well informed, there would be no fear for state police. It will be more effective but I also understand the fear that those in authority will use it against their opponents.

The state police can better manage the security situation in the country.

Despite the successes recorded against the Boko Haram sect, bombing of churches has continued. What in your opinion is the government not doing right in its fight against Terrorism?

Government is not doing anything wrong in order to attract this kind of nonsense. I believe,

Do you agree with those who say that President Jonathan should not contest the 2015 presidential election and should allow power

*Sen Barigha-Amange and I am waiting to be contradicted, that Boko Haram is a political set up and it will continue to exist as long as those who feel that power must not shift to another place, that they are the custodian of Nigerian power hold unto this position.

They believe that the West got power when they fought using their press, that south-south has used militancy to get power so they believe that this disturbance will force Nigerians to give them power. It is a political gimmick.

It is not terrorism as being painted.

If you are talking of unemployment, it is a national phenomenon. If you go to the oil companies you will discover that you have more people from outside the oil producing communities than the people

shift to the North?

Have you ever looked at the number of years each zone has ruled? Why are we talking about it only from 1999? Nigeria did not start from the Obasanjo era.

Nigeria should seen from 1960 so if you are taking records of leadership, you must start from 1960.

So how many rulers have we gotten from the Northwest from 1960 and how many years have they ruled from 1960? How many years has the North Central ruled since 1960? Anybody who is telling you that it is the turn of the north is not being considerate at all. At the end of President Jonathan’s tenure, the next people to rule this country should be South East.

When we say power must shift, why are we restricting it to North

and South? We have six geopolitical zones and power must shift from one zone to the other and not from north and south. It can never be north and south.

When the South South finishes, then it must go to South-East.

At the end of South East then it can go to North East. North West should not even come in at all.

Thank God it is not written anywhere but I do not believe that the North West should not even think about it at all.

Critics of the president say he is not fighting corruption.

Do they expect him to gather the people and shoot them? He must pass through due process and the courts might take time before giving judgment that does not mean he is not working. It is not a one man show. I am happy that he is strong and bold to say do this.

The special panel headed by Nuhu Ribadu is a clear example.

How many people in Nigeria can take their opponent to head a government agency? He has given a commitment that he would work on the report. That is how far he is fighting corruption. The main area of corruption in Nigeria is in the oil industry and he is facing it squarely.

Even in the power sector we have seen improvement. We believe that next year would be better than this year. These things are gradual.

We are in a civil rule and the president cannot do anything by fiat. he is doing his best and people should not expect him to behave like a military president.

Ojukwu's son, others remember Zik of Africa Continues from page 46 preached and practiced.

“Let me confess that I feel petrified at being hoisted on this pedestal today to chair this occasion celebrating immortality, yes immortality -for to live in the hearts of those who love you is not to die. For what he stood for, what he did for us, I would celebrate this doyen of African nationalism anytime, anywhere and give due reverence to this grandfather my own father – Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu openly confessed ‘practically groomed him on his laps’ in his book - Because I am involved (1989).”

He also described the Owelle of Onitsha as ‘the cuncator quintus fabius maximus,’ who was instrumental to Nigeria’s agitation and struggle for independence, which was secured and won not by arms but by polemics, logic and sheer force of argument. “For being a rabid apostle of that strategy, Dr. Azikiwe in 1966 declared openly that ‘violence was never

espoused in settling political problems,’ and today, we can as well celebrate him as Nigeria’s best man of peace.”

On the discord that had long torn apart the Ojukwu and Azikiwe families, he said the younger generation were bent on redressing what according to him, “is an aberration that has imparted negatively on the fortunes of Nigeria. This explains in fact my prominence today, aimed to rejig the friendship between the Ojukwu and Azikwe families.”

In the same vein, Sen. ItaGiwa, who was represented by Mr. Patrick Doyle said Zik played a pivotal role in her political evolution, noting that the acute absence of political actors of equal charisma and sagacity in the country today was lamentable.

Inspiration and sustenance

She said: “Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was in many ways to me a source of inspiration and sustenance.

Yes, indeed sustenance as he was my late mother ’s boss. My mother Chief Beatrice Bassey was one of Nigeria’s pioneer female journalists and for many years worked as a journalist in the Zik Group of Newspapers.

So as my mother’s employer, I dare say that the great Zik would be proud of what I later turned out to be.”

Ita-Giwa also averred that occasions like this that celebrate the life and times of great nationalists like Dr. Azikwe would trigger higher ideals in Nigeria’s current political actors.

Share Nigeria’s resources equitably On his part, Eze Hycinth Nwabueze Ohazulike described Zik as a true Nigerian nationalist, who stood for the struggle for one and indivisible Nigeria. He, however, opined that the call for an indivisible Nigeria was unattainable if some ethnic regions were better favoured in terms of distribution of Nigeria’s rich resources than their counterparts.

His words: “When Chief Herbert Macaulay, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and others fought for N i g e r i a ’ s independence, they never planned for the dehumanization of the South-Eastern region.

For the attainment of a true one Nigeria, I implore our current crop of leaders to engender the immediate creation of one more state for the region, so that our God-given natural resources could be equitably distributed.”

Our politicians must extol unifying nationalistic vision In the same vein, Chief Olabode George described Azikwe and his great-grand Uncle, Herbert Macaulay, as “two of a kind, thoroughbred soul mates, selfless, self-sacrificing personages woven in Siamese idealism. They devoted their lives to the endurance and workability of the Nigerian Union

*Azikiwe: Remembered by many even in that tumultuous formative stages when it was almost ruinous to collide against the mighty British imperialism.”

While noting that the paramount idealism of the duo, reached beyond the narrow purview of partisan pursuits, despite their ethnic differences, the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland implored today ’s crop of politicians to toe the line of the great Nigerian nationalists.

“No nation moves forward when the constituents are permanently detained in sheer mercenary fixation," he said.

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48—Vanguard,

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Nigerians decry poor attitude of embassy in UK

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

T

•Dozens of buildings across Gaza have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli air strikes

Ceasefire between Israel, Hamas imminent

A

ceasefire was set to be announced in the Gaza conflict, Egyptian and Palestinian officials said yesterday as at press time.

Egypt’s President Mohammed Mursi, who has led mediation efforts, said he expected Israel to end air strikes yesterday.

A Hamas official also told the BBC a truce was imminent.

Although Israel has not confirmed this, but has put plans for a land invasion on hold.

However it has also told residents in villages around Gaza City to move to central areas for their own safety.

Leaflets dropped in a number of villages say: “The Israel Defense Forces are not targeting any of you and they do not want to harm you or your families. For your safety we demand you to evacuate your houses immediately and move towards the centre of Gaza city.”

Israel launched its offensive, which it says is aimed at ending rocket fire from Gaza, with the killing on Wednesday of a Hamas military leader. More than 110 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed since then.

Israeli public support, could

Goma: M23 rebels capture DR Congo city

F

IGHTERS from the M23 rebel group have captured Goma, the main city in resource-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The rebels met little resistance from the army or UN peacekeepers.

The leaders of DR Congo and Rwanda, Joseph Kabila and Paul Kagame, flew to Uganda for talks, amid claims that Rwanda was backing the

British aid fails to improve Nigerian schools, report

B

RITAIN has failed to make major improvements to schools in Nigeria despite spending millions of pounds on the West African state’s education system, a British aid watchdog said yesterday.

Britain has spent 102 million pounds ($162 million) in the past seven years on a project to increase the number of girls in school and another that gave advice on how to improve the quality of education - but to little effect, the group said.

“Our review indicates no major improvement in pupil learning...with no likelihood of Nigeria meeting its Millennium Development Goal for primary education,” said the report by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI).

soon dry up if a ground invasion of Gaza took place Tuesday has seen a reduced level of violence, correspondents say, even though Israel has conducted some strikes. One was a “direct hit” on two militants in northern Gaza, the Israeli military said.

Western development projects in Africa have been criticized for years as wasteful, ineffective, encouraging dependency and undermined by corruption, though donors say they bring tangible results.

The London-based ICAI, which scrutinizes British overseas aid and reports to parliament, gave Britain’s education program in Nigeria its second lowest rating.

It said the schools British money was currently going to were hampered by a lack of good teachers, poor infrastructure and unpredictable state funding.

A spokesman for Britain’s Department for International Development said the report team had only visited one percent of Nigeria’s schools, most of which were in only one state.

rebels.

Already, France has called for the UN Security Council to strengthen the peacekeepers’ mandate to intervene in the conflict.

It was “absurd” that the UN force could not stop the rebels, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.

Mr Kabila called on people to “resist” the rebels.

Protesters burnt UN and ruling party property in the eastern city of Kisangani, as they vented their fury over the fall of Goma.

Aid agencies say tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in the last five days as conflict escalated.

Goma lies right on the border of Rwanda and DR Congo. It is a vibrant commercial centre with a functioning infrastructure supporting banks, academic institutions, hospitals and a base for the UN peacekeeping force.

The city is just a two-hour road journey from Rwanda’s capital and attracts hundreds of traders and businessmen from across the border. Swahili, Lingala and Kinyarwanda are commonly heard in the streets, rather than the French and Lingala spoken in the capital Kinshasa and the west.

Goma is home to a massive trade in minerals from the resource-rich region, while its airport serves the whole of eastern DR Congo.

HE nonchalant attitude of officers of the Nigeria Embassy in U.K towards Nigerians has become worrisome due to constant reports that not much was being done by the Nigerian high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida, to curtail his officers excesses.

A Nigerian who simply identified herself as Madam Nenia, and who has lived in the UK for more than seven years, told Consular Advisory that she was embittered with the “come today, come tomorrow” appointment she has been receiving from the Nigeria high commission in the UK. She said this was contrary to the high commissioner ’s statement that the mission was doing its best to provide for effective consular services to Nigerians in the U.K. She also accused the high commission of not being totally honest with the statement that they have opened the doors of the mission for every Nigerian citizen who is in need of any assistance.

Nenia said: “Although I applaud some of the enviable job the high commissioner is doing, by way of refurbishing the mission to the envy of all Nigerians in the U.K, yet I feel it is important for the diplomat to extend immeasurable consular services to Nigerians in the U.K, by treating speedily, cases of lost passports or articles.

Very poor relationship “From experience and that of my friends, there is a very poor relationship between the Nigerian mission and Nigerians living in the U.K, and I know that the high commissioner has been receiving several cases of misconduct by the mission’s aides, which range from being arrogant, detached and highly officious. Though he claims through reports that he often cautions his officers and that the high commission at intervals arranges special training programmes for workers to enable them exhibit proper customer service manners.”

She argued that if the high commissioner had also created a dialogue between the Nigeria High Commission and the UK government, under a UK/ Nigeria forum pertaining to immigration rule, as he was also reported to have said, why would any Nigerian be turned back for reasons that he has unauthentic stay permit, without verification.

“As for those who are qualified to stay, even if they do not have passports, why would the Nigeria mission not grant one, once there is confirmed evidence that the U.K government is willing to grant them stay?” she

asked.

Some reports have it that approximately about two million Nigerians are in the U.K, with little or no welfare consideration, and because of this, Nenia has concluded that “UK is no longer a safe haven. It is easier to survive in Nigeria without a job than to live in the UK without a job. So, unless you have a job, a confirmed job, better do not think of coming to UK”, she advised, adding that “make sure that your papers are correct even if you are a visitor, otherwise you can get into trouble now that they make use of electronics or biometric passport, whereby you cannot have more than one passport.

Once you have that single passport, you cannot amend what is inside it like some Nigerians used to do in the past.”

Nigerians in U.K prisons

A

CCORDING to reports, over 500 Nigeria nationals are languishing in U.K prisons as a result of their involvement in various categories of criminal activities. This development, according to the Nigerian high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, is an acknowledgement that a large number of the nation’s citizens in the U.K survive through illegal means.

The offences which range from immigration paper forgery, credit cards fraud, internet scams, obtaining by trick, among others, have in no small way tainted the country’s image and as such the high commissioner warns that Nigeria immigrants to the U.K should desist from indulging in illegal activities which could only make them end up in prisons.

According to the high commissioner “ United Kingdom is no longer a safe haven where Nigerians could easily travel to and hustle to eke out a livelihood.

Nigerians wishing to come to visit, study or settle in the UK should ensure they had genuine papers, confirmed businesses and must have followed due processes before embarking on the trip”.

He also emphasized that it was important that travellers have a source of livelihood while in the U.K, or forget the trip, since it is easier to live in Nigeria without a job. The high commissioner further advised that travel documents must be complete and not forged, stressing that this was what got a lot of Nigerians in trouble while some end up in prison. He said: “The commission in all these, will never turn its back on the nationals and as part of my diplomatic mission, the embassy is ready to assist the prisoners via various welfare packages.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012 — 49

R-l: MD, Nigerian Bottling Company PLC, Mr. Ben Langat;Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Adefulire; Sports Commissioner and Sec Gen, Eko 2012 at today's unveiling of co-branded Coca-Cola 50cl PET bottle for Eko 2012 Sports Festival.

Jonathan loses brother on birthday •Censors ministers, top govt officials on birthday publicity

By SONI DANIEL & BEN AGANDI

T

RAGEDY, yesterday, robbed President Goodluck Jonathan of the joy of celebrating his 55th birthday with fanfare.

The seat of government in Abuja, was thrown into mourning and the joy of the birthday anniversary cut short, when news of the death of his younger brother, Meni Innocent Jonathan, filtered in.

Sources said that the President was informed of the sudden death of his brother as soon as the man passed on in the early hours of yesterday. It could

not be ascertained whether the man died at the Villa or the National Hospital.

Meni, who was until his death a chief in Otueke, was said to have accompanied President Jonathan to the Villa last Sunday but suddenly took ill on Monday.

An indigene of Bayelsa, who said he knew the late Meni, described him as a quiet, unassuming young man, who did his best for his community and fellow men while he was alive.

The deceased, who was in his late 40’s was said to have been shuttling between Otueke and Abuja

2015: Don’t distract me, Mark warns

By HENRY UMORU

ABUJA- SENATE President David Mark, yesterday, warned those he termed mischief makers not to distract him with the politics of 2015 presidential election especially on who will run for the position of President.

He said that what preoccupies his mind at the moment was the task of providing qualitative legislative leadership for the country and not the issue of 2015 Presidential election.

In a statement by his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the Senate president, however, warned mischief makers who were bent on overheating the polity with the 2015 presidential election to put an end to that.

The statement said: "Our attention has been drawn to the actions of some mischief makers who are bent on causing disaffection between President Goodluck Jonathan and the President of the Senate, Senator Dav-

id Mark. The trade mark of this group is to consistently announce a presidential ambition or interest on behalf of the President of the Senate.

"For this set of mischief makers, the premises of the National Assembly is either flooded with “Mark for President” forms or distinguished senators are forming groups to canvass the said presidential interest.

Nothing can be farther from the truth. It is imperative to state and emphatically too, that Senator Mark and President Jonathan are on the same page in the onerous task of providing democratic dividends for Nigerians.

"It is, therefore, irresponsible, mischievous and misplaced for any set of Nigerians to embark on over heating the polity at this time of our national history. The Senate president is faced with providing qualitative legislative leadership for our nation and urged mischief makers not to distract him.”

following the election of his brother as Nigeria’s Vice President in 2007 and later as President in 2011.

Meni’s death was confirmed by Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, in a terse statement he released yesterday afternoon. The statement said: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan announces with sadness the death earlier today of his younger brother, Meni Innocent Jonathan. Chief Meni Jonathan passed away at the National Hospital, Abuja after a brief illness. Formal burial arrangements will be announced later by the family.”

Meanwhile, it has emerged that before departing for Islamabad, President Jonathan had warned ministers and other top government functionaries not to place any congratulatory message in the media congratulating him on his 55th birth anniversary.

No reason was given for the media censorship by Jonathan but a competent source said that he did not want his private birthday to be turned into a media blitz and source of profligacy by government officials at a time Nigerians were experiencing serious hardship.

A review of the birthday goodwill messages placed in most national dailies on Tuesday to mark the President’s birthday, were mostly from some governors and private organisations and businessmen in Nigeria.

Only the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe and his Aviation counterpart, Stella Odua in conjunction with King A.J. Turner, placed a one-page congratulatory message in their private capacities to commemorate the President’s birthday.

50 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012—51

Chime: Commissioner faults newspaper report E NUGU—ENUGU State Commissioner for Information, Chuks Ugwoke, has refuted a recent newspaper report (not Vanguard ) which alleged that Governor Sullivan Chime had returned to Enugu from his vacation and was thereafter flown abroad due to ill-health.

It will be recalled that the said newspaper reported last week that the governor had arrived Enugu and only three days ago came out with another report that Chime was again flown back to an Asian country.

In a brief chat with Vanguard yesterday in Enugu, Ugwoke said: “It is, to put it mildly, the most absurd goof I’ve heard in recent times. It was so irresponsible and such a professional recklessness by a reporter who lives with us in this city.

“To be frank, it beats the imagination how such falsehood came about. To put the records straight, Governor Chime is still on his vacation and did not, at any time, return to Enugu as the reporter claimed. And since he did not come back, the issue of being “flown

back to an Asian country” and that is quoting the reporter, could not arise. These facts are verifiable.

“It was even worse that the said report was quoting “government sources” as insisting that

the governor was still in Enugu. This, to me, sounds like a fairy tale from a children’s book of fiction. Well, I’m making this clarification because of the numerous concerns that the said report generated.”

Cancer: Long trip to India for treatment killed Nzeribe —Doctor

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

L

AGOS—LATE adver tising practitioner, Dr. May Nzeribe, did not die as a direct consequence of the prostate cancer which he had been battling for years; rather, he died from multiple organ failure caused by “thrombosis of the veins” – a medical complication that was triggered by prolonged sitting during the long airplane journey to India, where he went to seek treatment.

Disclosing this development to Vanguard yesterday in reaction to news of Nzeribe’s sudden death, a cancer specialist and National Coordinator, National Cancer Prevention Programme, NCPP, Dr. Kin Egwuonu, said the thrombosis of the veins, often described as “economy class

syndrome” for airplane, car, or train travel, caused blood clots to form in the veins of the deceased.

“He went for cancer treatment but ended up with a bigger problem. When somebody is having cancer, the blood thickens and clots easily and because of this complication from the long flight, he developed multiple organ failure. This is why it is not very okay for people that are not very well to undertake such a long journey,” Egwuonu remarked.

He said the hospital Nzeribe was going to could not even treat him anymore because of the complications from the long flight.

He was taken to the Intensive Care Unit and the Indian doctors wanted him to be brought back to Nigeria, but he died there.

52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012—53

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54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Mourinho prepares for Real exit

J

OSE Mourinho is preparing his exit strategy at Real Madrid.

AS says the photos of Mourinho’s wife and daughter in London on the weekend were part of plans to find a new challenge for the coach.

A close friend says Mourinho’s body language suggests he knows his time is coming to an end in Madrid.

He’s lost his spark, his motivation and now wants to relight his fire elsewhere.

With his daughter to study in London next year, a return to Chelsea has been mooted.

But Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is also a fan and with Andre Villas-Boas failing to convince since replacing Harry Redknapp, a move to White Hart Lane is also an option for the Special One.

Balotelli can be world's best — Mancini

M

ANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini believes striker Mario Balotelli could become one of the best players in the world if he worked harder in training.

“He has everything to be one of the best players in the world,” Mancini said of his 22-year-old fellow Italian.

“He could be like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi if he understands that to be like this you should work hard.”

•Mourinho

Bolt turns to football or cricket after Rio 2016 S Nadal back training, eyes Aussie Open

•Nadal

R

AFAEL Nadal has begun training as part of his recovery from a left knee injury that has sidelined him since Wimbledon.

The Spaniard chose a hard court in his home town of Manacor to begin hitting tennis balls again, overseen by his uncle and coach Toni Nadal and a physiotherapist.

The 26-year-old Nadal says he plans to be fully fit in time for the Australian Open in January.

The fourth-ranked Nadal, who won the French Open, has not played a competitive match since losing to Czech player Lukas Rosol in the second round at Wimbledon nearly five months ago.

•Bolt

Ow en tto o ssttar Owen artt training

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ICHAEL Owen is determined to return to training this week and make up for lost time at Stoke City by proving that he can still make an impact in the Premier League.

With almost a third of the Premier League C M Y K

PRINT star Usain Bolt will not appear in this year’s Big Bash Twenty20 League but may consider switching to football or cricket after the 2016 Olympics.

The Jamaican, 26, held talks with Shane Warne’s Melbour ne Stars in October.

But Bolt’s agent Ricky Simms told BBC Sport: “Usain is currently an athlete focused on his preparations for the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.

“He may try his hand at cricket or football when he retires from running but that would be after 2016.”

Bolt, who grew up in cricket-mad Jamaica, was sounded out by Melbourne Stars captain Warne in August after cementing his status as an athletics legend by defending his 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay crowns at the London 2012 Olympics.

campaign completed, the former England striker ’s move to the Britannia Stadium has so far offered him few opportunities to demonstrate that he still has what it takes to operate at the highest level.

•Tyson

•Balotelli

Tyson: I’m happier now than when I was a champion

F

O R M E R heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has insisted that he is “happier ” now than when he was at the peak of his career.

The American former professional arrived in Adelaide, Australia this morning to a warm welcome from a crowd of around 50 fans. ”This is awesome, man. I am so much happier now than when I was champion of the world,” Tyson told adelaidenow.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012 — 55

Keshi compares Mali, Nigeria H EAD coach of the Nigerian national team, Stephen Keshi, has attempted to draw parallels between his current job and his time at

the helm of the Mali national team.

Keshi coached Mali’s Eagles between 2008 and 2010 and believes the pressure of holding the

Kanu Continues from B/P Mali.

“If we are talking about size, Mali should have ordinarily defeated the Golden Eaglets today (Sunday) but winning matches is not about how big you are,” Kanu, said after watching the pulsating encounter.

“Despite the size of the Malians, the Golden Eaglets were still able to play their usual passing game and were just unlucky to have scored just two goals.”

Kanu, a star of the 1993 Golden Eaglets that emerged champions at Japan’93, said he hinged his optimism on the premise that the current national Under-17 team is blessed with players who could be match winner any

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day! ” Alhassan Ibrahim, the Number 8 for instance, can wreck the Malians and he was just unlucky today because he should have scored more than a goal,” he reemphasized. “They just need to relax and play their usual style and I’m confident that they would beat Mali in Bamako,” added Kanu.

Similarly, Hon. Patrick Ugbe, the Cross River State Commissioner of Sports, has also tipped the Golden Eaglets to eventually qualify for the 2013 African Cadet Championship to be hosted in Morocco.

“This is about the best team that Nigeria is building at present,” Ugbe said matter-offactly.

reins has not been matched since he took charge of the Nigerian national team.

“When people talk to me about pressure, I smile because the pressure (when I was coach of) Mali is probably worse than I experienced in Nigeria,” Keshi told supersport.com.

The former Nigerian captain further explained

that the “biggest pressure” he faces is to ensure players of the national team remain at the peak of their powers.

“I am doing my job. I don’t think about pressure.

If you want to excel, you must be ready to deal with pressure. The pressure is there but I try to shield my players from it.

“The biggest pressure I face is to see that my players are in good shape,” he said.

Olagbegi Continues from B/P Lagos.

Executive Chairman of Delta Sports Commission, Amaju Pinnick invited Rolake from her Atlanta base in the US to join the Delta team. Rolake currently runs a tennis academy in Atlanta. ‘’Our players have improved tremendously since she started training them. In just one week the progress made has justified the investment,’’ Amaju said in Asaba.

“We have worked hard and will be going for the

title in Lagos,” Amaju said while announcing that the 800 man delegation from Delta will arrive Lagos on Sunday.

He said that “eminent Deltans like Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu and Nduka Obaigbena (publishers of Vanguard and Thisday Newspapers) have been invited to receive the team at TREM Church, Gbagada at 4 pm on Sunday.”

Amaju said that a brief prayer session will follow before the team go into their camp in Lagos.

Eagles Continues from B/P considered.

“We had cases where players paid money to the coach and said ‘I want to play for the national team’ and the coach would accept. They bought their way into the national team and it was an unbelievable situation. Very sad. I know these things,” an angry Westerhof said.

With Nigeria set to compete at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations from January, Westerhof said things have changed for the better under current head coach, Stephen Keshi.

“My captain (Keshi) is there now and you can see the changes because he selects the right people.

“Nigeria beat Liberia 61 in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier and outclassed Venezuela (in an international friendly earlier this month). The results come because players are now selected on merit.

“If Keshi can manage to hold that group together

things will get even better. If there is discipline everywhere; the players sleep in time and live like professionals, work like professionals and think like professionals and even go to the toilet like a professional, then you will see Nigeria will come back,” he said.

Westerhof, 72, began his career as an assistant coach with Feyenoord Rotterdam in the Dutch Eredivisie. He has also coached Vitesse Arnhem, the Zimbabwean national team, the Sporting Lions of Zimbabwe’s Premier League, and the Bush Bucks and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.In addition, he has served as technical director of the Hararebased Agatha Sheneti Youth Academy and also of the Harare United club, which was linked to the Academy. In 2001 he was technical director of Dynamos FC, Zimbabwe’s biggest club, but lasted in the position just a few months.

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VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Eagles were super corrupt – Westerhof F

UNSTOPPABLE ••• Messi outwits Emenike and his fellow Moscowvites.

Emenike goes down as Messi shines

B

ARCELONA coach, Tito Vilanova ensured his wards got nothing less than three points as they defeated Spartak Moscow 3-0 in a Group G game of the Champions League.

More remarkable was that they were away to the Russians who gave them a lot of problems in the reverse fixture at the Nou Camp. Dani Alves opened scores in the 16th minute from a long range shot.

Messi’s flick had glided off a Spartak Moscow defender and found an unrushing Alves who fired home the opening.

TODAY'S

Nigerian international, Emmanuel Emenike missed a close chance as his shot went off target.

Results Bate Borisov 0 Lille 2 S/Moscow 0 Barca 3

Kanu, Ugbe tip Eaglets to shock Mali

N

WANKWO Kanu, erstwhile Super Eagles captain, is bullish that the Golden Eaglets would scale the Malian hurdle to qualify Nigeria for the African U n d e r - 1 7 Championship for the first time since 2007.

The Golden Eaglets

PUZZLE

take a 2-0 goal advantage to Bamako in two weeks time against a supposedly big and obviously older opposition but Kanu said he is not confident the Nigerian youngsters would not be overawed by the Junior Eagles of Continues on page 55 YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ORMER Nigeria national team coach, Clemens Westerhof has revealed that players bribed their way into the national team in the past.

Westerhof, who coached Nigeria to success at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia and also led the Super Eagles to their first-ever Fifa World Cup in the United States in 1994, said the players who did not merit a place in the national team got call-ups after giving money to the selectors.

“We had a situation where we had the wrong people in the wrong places, even in the (Nigeria) FA,” Westerhof told supersport.com.

The Dutchman went on to specifically state that monies usually exchanged hands between national team selectors and the players when places in the national team were

•Westerhof

•Keshi

Eko 2012: Olagbegi joins Team Delta Kassim is in Nigeria

1

987 All Africa Games gold medalist and one time Nigeria’s only female player on the circuit Rolake Olagbegi

training Delta’s tennis team to the National Sports Festival which kicks off next week in

Continues on page 55

TODAY’S MATCHES Zenit Arsenal Porto Dynamo Kyiv Schalke Anderlecht Ajax ManCity

v v v v v v v v

Málaga Montpellier Dinamo Zagreb PSG Olympiakos Milan Borussia Dortmd Real Madrid

6.00 pm 8.45 p.m.

8.45 p.m.

8.45 p.m.

8.45 p.m.

8.45 p.m.

8.45 p.m.

8.45 p.m.

Continues on page 55 ACROSS 1 Portray (6) 5 Seem (6) 9 Wash out (5) 10 Tyrant (6) 11 Tray (6) 12 Jury (5) 14 Dungeon (4) 17 Fruit (3) 18 Repast (4) 20 Handle (5) 22 Dizzy (5) 23 Airship (7) 24 Viper (5) 26 Flower (5) 29 Stagger (4) 30 Obese (3) 32 Cloy (4) 33 Court (5) 35 Tremble (6) 36 Up-to-date (6) 37 Pungent (5) 38 Disposition (6) 39 Notched (6)

DOWN 1 Subtract (6) 2 Pulveriser (6) 3 Harvest (4) 4 Giant (5) 5 Possession (5) 6 Ring (4) 7 Coveted (6) 8 Seldom (6) 13 Atomic (7) 15 Eat away (5) 16 Tag (5) 18 Less (5) 19 Confess (5) 21 Sailor (3) 22 Obtained (3) 24 Ascended (6) 25 Stop (6) 27 Dirge (6) 28 Enclosed (6) 30 Power (5) 31 Swollen (5) 33 Dread (4) 34 Style (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 4, Paste 7, Prefer 9, Rub 10, Mop 12, Rally 13, Coup 15, Beset 17, Relent 19, Earn 20, Dense 22, Eat 24, Tantrum 27, Nor 28, Cited 31, Free 33, Tackle 35, Teeth 37, Dawn 38, Might 39, Eon 41, Ice 42, Patent 43, Bench.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Spiced 2, Return 3, Hem 4, Pure 5, Abate 6, Tolerate 8, Robe 11, Penetrate 14, Pest 16, Star 18, Lean 21, Exercise 23, Tuck 25, Note 26, Mild 29, Teaser 30, Denote 32, Ethic 34, Chop 36, Etch 40, Nab.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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